j  / 


1 


TABLES 


OF 

MINERALOGY. 


(DETERMINATIVE). 


>ESIGNED  FOR  THE  DETERMINATION  OF  THE  USEFUL  AND  MORE  ORDINARY  MIN¬ 
ERALS  by  Their  Physical  Characteristics,  Based  on  the  Latest 
Edition  of  "Weisbach’s  Tabellen,”  Together  with  Brief 
Notes  on  Their  Use,  and  a  Blowpiping  Scheme 
and  Tests  for  Identification  of  Their 
More  Important  Constituents. 

by 

BENJAMIN  SADTLER,  Js.,  A.  M.,  B.  S., 

Professor  of  Metallurgy  and  Mineralogy  in  the  Colorado 
State  School  of  Mines. 


COLORADO  STATE  SCHOOL  OF  MINES  SERIES  NO.  6. 


FOR  SALE  BY 

:HE  CHAIN  &  HARDY  BOOK,  ART  AND  STATIONERY  CO.,  1609-1615  Arapahoe  St.,  Deuver. 


Printed  for  the  State  School  of  Mines  by  the 

Golden  Globe  Printing  House. 


1891. 


Copyright  applied  for, 


PREFACE. 


While  engaged  in  smelting  establishments  and  elsewhere  before  my  con¬ 
nection  with  the  School  of  Mines,  two  facts  repeatedly  and  forcibly  obtruded 
themselves  upon  me.  The  one  was  that  to  most  mining  men  and  prospectors 
who  would  bring  a  mineral  for  identification,  that,  except  iu  the  case  of  the 
commoner  ores  of  the  metals,  the  name  of  the  mineral  meant  nothing  and  the 
inevitable  question  followed,  “What  is  it  good  for?”  or  “Has  it  any  value?” 
The  second  was  that  the  text  books  of  mineralogy  either  gave  no  such  infor¬ 
mation  at  all  or  gave  it  only  partially  and  disconnectedly.  Since  then  over 
three  years  experience  in  the  school  have  only  served  to  emphasize  the  fact 
that,  for  technical  students  at  least,  some  idea  of  the  uses  of  the  minerals 
should  be  given  hand  in  hand  with  work  in  their  identification  and  classifica- 
oation.  To  this  end  I  have  taken  the  admirable  tables  of  my  old  instructor, 
Prof.  Weisbach  of  the  Royal  Saxon  School  of  Mines,  as  a  basis,  struck  out  the 
names  of  the  rarer  non-useful  minerals  and  made  some  other  changes  wThich 
had  been  suggested  by  their  use  in  the  mineralogical  laboratory.  To  them  I 
have  added,  in  the  case  of  all  ores  and  useful  minerals,  a  brief  statement  of 
their  uses  and  mentioned  the  kind  of  establishments  which  could  handle  them 
on  a  commercial  scale. 

The  method  pursued  in  the  tables  is,  in  effect,  a  training  of  the  judg¬ 
ment  and  observation;  the  mineral  beiug  classified  first  as  metallic  or  non- 
metallic,  then  sub-divided  and  resub-divided  according  to  other  easily  observed 
physical  characteristics  such  as  color,  streak,  lustre,  hardness  etc.,  as  specified 
in  the  instructions  for  use  of  the  tables  given  in  the  introduction,  so  that  while 
the  number  of  minerals  in  the  table  is  large,  the  specimen  under  examination 
could,  almost  at  a  glance  be  placed  in  a  sub-division  which  would  contain  only 
a  limited  number,  each  of  which  would  be  so  distinct  from  the  others  in  one 
or  more  characteristics  that  its  determination  would  be  an  easy  matter,  By 
this  means  the  student  is  given  as  part  of  his  preparation  for  more  advanced 
work  in  mining,  metallurgy  etc.,  a  thorough  knowledge  of  all  the  useful  and  of 
the  commoner  non-useful  minerals,  together  with  some  idea  of  the  uses  of  the 
valuable  ones. 

To  this  nucleus  of  mineralogical  knowledge  may  be  added  by  subsequent 
study  the  rarer  minerals  but  there  is  not  room,  in  an  already  overcrowded 
technical  course  to  attempt  it.  The  latter  part  of  the  book  consists  of  a 


IV. 


scheme  and  tests  to  determine  the  presence  of  the  commoner  and  more  useful 
elements  of  by  means  of  the  blowpipe. 

This  is  so  arranged  as  to  involve  the  use  of  the  least  possible  variety  of 
apparatus  and  reagents.  While  the  work  has  been  done  primarily  for  the  use 
of  the  students  of  the  State  School  of  Mines,  it  has  also  been  my  aim  to  make 
it  meet  the  needs  of  that  large  class  of  men  of  non-scientific  education  who 
have  become  interested  in  mining  and  allied  persuits.  It  is  not  in  any  sense 
of  the  word  a  set  of  scientific  mineralogical  tables;  that  ground  is  already 
amply  covered.  It  is  intended  to  put  information  on  the  subject  in  a  condens¬ 
ed  and  accessible  form.  If  it  helps,  in  any  measure,  to  indicate  resources  in  a 
country  enormously  wealthy  in  undeveloped  ones,  it  will  fully  meet  expecta¬ 
tions.  B.  Sadtler  Jr. 

Golden,  Colo.,  Jan.  1891. 


INTRODUCTION. 


In  the  use  of  any  tables  for  the  determination  of  minerals  by  their  physical 
characteristics,  the  main  object  is,  of  course,  to  so  educate  the  judgment  that 
we  will  be  able  to  identify  most  minerals  at  a  glance  and  also  to  give  reasons 
for  our  decision  ;  in  other  words,  in  a  given  case  of  two  minerals  which  might 
to  the  untrained  judgement  seem  identical,  we  should  by  virtue  of  our  trained 
experience  be  able  to  specify  slight  differences  which  might  exist  in  hardness 
color,  lustre,  etc.,  between  minerals  of  widely  different  composition.  To  this 
end  the  minerals  in  these  tables  have  been  arranged  in  divisions  and  sub¬ 
divisions  according  to  their  more  easily  observed  peculiarities.  In  cases  where 
a  mineral  may  so  vary  in  appearance  as  to  render  it  uncertain  in  which  sub¬ 
division  it  should  belong,  it  is  listed  under  all  the  divisions  under  which  it 
might  occur.  When  a  mineral  is  thus  mentioned  more  than  once,  its  complete 
description  is  referred  to  the  page  where  it  is  first  mentioned. 

In  determining  a  mineral  we  first  decide  to  which  of  the  three  main 
divisions  it  belongs,  then  refer  it  to  its  sub-head  according  to  its  color,  streak 
or  hardness,  by  which  time  the  variety  of  minerals  for  which  it  may  be  mistaken 
has  become  re-divided  to  such  a  small  number  that  the  descriptions  given  in 
the  tables  will  in  most  cases  readily  decide  its  identity. 

Examples  may  render  this  method  clearer.  Take  the  mineral  Millerite  ; 
Bimple  inspection  tells  us  that  it  is  distinctly  metallic  in  lustre  and  yellow  in 
color,  on  glancing  at  the  Contents  we  are  refered  to  page  4.  Determining  the 
hardness  by  the  method  discribed  below,  we  find  it  to  be  4  ;  we  see  however 
that  the  mineral  Chalcopyrite  has  the  same  hardness.  Looking  at  the  descrip¬ 
tions  of  the  two  minerals  we  find  that  Millerite  is  light  bronze-yellow  in  color, 
black  in  streak  and  of  a  fibrous  fracture  ;  while  Chalcopyrite  is  brass-yellowT  in 
color,  greenish-black  in  streak  and  compact  in  fracture,  as  well  as  different  in 
some  minor  points  from  the  Millerite.  Any  one  of  the  three  points  named 
would  decide  the  question.  Take  as  another  instance  the  mineral  Chlorite, 
this  is  distinctly  of  Non-raetallic  Lustre  and  on  trying  it  we  find  it  to  be  of 
white  or  nearly  white  in  streak  which  refers  it  to  the  third  named  division. 
Trying  its  hardness  we  find  it  to  be  2.5  ;  of  which  hardness  we  find  there  are 
the  unusually  large  number  of  nine  minerals.  Inspection  shows  that  Chlorite  is 


VI. 


the  only  mineral  of  the  nine  of  a  green  color,  and  that  the  remaining  eight  mine¬ 
rals  of  this  hardness  all  present  one  or  more  points  of  difference  from  each  other. 

The  hardness  is  determined  by  means  of  what  is  known  as  Moh’s  Scale  of 
Hardness.  This  is  a  set  of  ordinary  minerals  numbered  from  one  to  ten  res¬ 
pectively.  The  hardness  of  any  mineral  is  greater  than  that  of  the  one  which 
it  will  scratch  with  a  gentle  pressure  and  less  than  the  one  which  will 
scratch  it.  With  practice  it  is  possible  to  determine  the  hardness  of 
mineral  very  closely  by  scratching  with  a  pen  knife  ;  however  the  minerals  in 
the  scale  of  hardness  up  to  7  (beyond  which  very  few  minerals  occur)  are  com¬ 
mon  and  easily  obtained. 

The  streak  of  a  mineral  can  easily  be  obtained  by  rubbing  it  on  a  piece  of 
unglazed  porcelain  or  by  observing  the  color  of  the  powder  made  by  scratching 
it  with  the  point  of  a  penknife. 

The  tenacity  is  observed  by  attempting  to  shave  off  an  edge  or  point  with  a 
knife. 

Throughout  the  mineral  tables  only  those  minerals  which  have  been  found 
in  quantities  sufficient  to  justify  their  being  worked  have  had  their  uses 
specified.  There  is  however  a  large  number  of  minerals  shown  by  their 
formulae  to  contain  valuable  metals,  which  would  be  worked  if  found  in  sufficient 
quantity,  and  which  are  now  sometimes  utilized  when  they  occur  associated 
with  the  ores  of  their  respective  metals. 

The  names  of  minerals  printed  in  larger  type  are  the  commoner  varieties, 
those  in  smaller  type  are  rarer.  The  letters  (c),  (o)  and  (r)  opposite  the  crystal 
form  of  a  mineral  refer  to  the  frequency  of  the  occurence  of  distinct  crystals 
and  mean  “common”,  “occasional”  and  “rare”. 

While  the  blowpiping  has  been  written  mainly  to  be  used  in  instruction  in 
the  School  of  Mines,  still  for  the  benefit  of  those  wishing  to  work  at  it  privately, 
I  will  give  the  following  advice  :  By  no  means  attempt  to  start  with  the 
scheme  immediately  on  ores  and  other  minerals,  especially  complex  ones. 
First  provide  yourself,  from  any  dealer  in  assayer’s  and  chemist’s  supplies 
with  a  set  of  small  quantities  of  simple  compounds  of  the  elements  on  which 
tests  are  given.  Practice  the  tests  carefully,  first  on  the  simple  compounds  and 
then  on  mixtures  of  compounds  taking  care  to  mix  no  elements  which  do  not 
occur  together  in  some  mineral.  Then  take  a  few  of  the  simpler  minerals  and 
practice  on  them.  Such  practice  on  chemicals  and  minerals  should  be  continued 
until  you  feel  sure  of  the  tests.  Self  instruction  is  always  difficult  and  is  es- 
pecialy  so  in  anything  approaching  laboratory  work  and  disregard  of  the  above 
would  be  very  apt  to  lead  to  errors. 

There  is  also  in  the  latter  part  of  this  work  a  table  of  elements,  symbols 


VII. 


and  atomic  weights  which  is  necessary  in  interpreting  the  chemical  formula 
opposite  the  names  of  the  minerals.  When  it  is  desired  to  obtain  the  percentage 
of  any  constituent  in  a  mineral,  multiply  the  atomic  weight  of  each  constituent 
by  the  numeral  attached  to  its  symbol,  add  the  results  together  and  divide  the 
sum  into  the  weight  of  the  constituent  whose  percentage  is  desired.  For 
example,  the  formula  of  Pyrargyrite  or  Ruby  Silver  is  Ag3  Sb  S3.  The  atomic 
weight  of  Ag  is  107.7  which  multiplied  by  0  gives  us  323.1  ;  the  atomic  weight 
of  Sb  is  122  ;  the  atomic  weight  of  S  is  32,  which  multiplied  by  3  gives  96  ; 
the  total  of  the  three  constituents  make  541.1  which  divided  into  323.1  gives 
59.7  as  the  percentage  of  silver  m  the  mineral. 

Writing  a  scientific  book  for  the  use  of  non -scientific  men  is  a  rather  un¬ 
usual  proceeding,  and  those  who  use  the  book  without  instruction  may  find 
many  difficulties  which  I  have  not  forseen.  To  direct  my  attention  to  any 
such  difficulty  or  lack  of  clearness  would  be  esteemed  a  favor. 


B.  S. 


CONTENTS. 


\ 

DETERMINATIVE  TABLES. 


PAGE. 

Preface . Ill 

Introduction  and  Explanation  of  Use  of  Tables .  V 

1.  Minerals  op  Metallic  Lustre. 

I.  Red  Color .  2 

II.  Yellow .  4 

III.  White .  6 

IV.  Gray .  8 

V.  Black .  14 

2.  Minerals  op  Sub-Metallic  and  Non-metallic  lustre.  ( Opaque  and  of 

Colored  Streak'). 

I.  Black  Streak . • . . .  18 

II.  Brown  Streak .  20 

III.  Red  Streak .  24 

IV.  Yellow  Streak .  26 

V.  Green  Streak .  30 

VI.  Blue  Streak .  32 

3.  Minerals  of  Non-Metallic  Lustre.  ( White  or  Gray  Streak). 

I.  Soft . 34 

II.  Medium .  48 

III  Hard .  55 

Blow  piping, 

I.  Apparatus  and  Reagents . 60 

II.  General  Scheme  for  Examination .  61 

III.  Individual  Tests . ; .  62 

Table  of  Symbols  and  Atomic  Weights .  69 

Scales  of  Hardness  and  Fusibility .  70 

Index  of  Minerals .  71 


t 


0 


Minerals 


I.  RED. 


Name. 


Formula. 


Color. 


Streak. 


COPPER 


Cn. 


Copper-red 


Copper-red 


—  L 


Native  Cn.  is  an  important  source  of  theunetal  which  is  saved  in  low-grad* 
alone.  The  metal  thus  obtained  is  freer  from  Pb.  As.  and  Sb.  than  that  from 


RORNITE 


Cu,  Fe  S3 


I 


Copper-red  to 
Br<  mze-yellow. 


Black 


Also  an  important  Cu.  ore  is  roasted  and  smelted  in  blast  or  reverberatory 
ot  herwise  it  is  again  roasted  and  reduced  to  metal.  It  is  an  abundant  ore  irl 


HREITHAUPT1TK 


NICCOLUTK 


Ni  Sb 

Ni  As 


Copper-red  Reddish-brown 
Light  Copper-red  ! Brownish-black 


i. 


Metallic '  Lustre, 


Hardness.  Tenacity.  Crystal  System.  Fracture. 


2.1 


Malleable 


Isom  (T 


Compact 


Sp.  Gr. 


8.9 


>!•<>  by  crushing,  concentrating  and  smelting;  in  high-grade  ore  by  smelting 
>tlier  Cu.  ores,  and  commands  a  premium.  Lake  Superior  Cu.  is  of’ this  class. 


I 


.■I..') 


Seotile  to 
Brittle 


Hexagonal  (r) 


Compact 


i  .•) 


u maces  to  high-grade  matte. 


dontana. 

5 

Brittle 

5.25 

Brittle 

which  is  refined  lor  Ag.  and  An.  when  present; 


Hex.  tablets 
Hex.  fr) 


Granular 

Compact 


oo 


7.o 


4 


MINERALS  OF  METALLIC  LUSTRE. 


II.  YELLOW. 


N  ame. 

Formula. 

Color. 

Streak. 

GOLD. 

Au. 

Yellow. 

Yellow. 

: 


When  An.  occurs  native  it  is  usually  obtained  from  the  ore  by  amalgama-  I 
the  associated  minerals  and  the  grade  of  the  ore. 


BORNITE  also  occurs  red  and  is  there  described. 


STANNI  I'E 


Brass-Yellow 
Light  Bronze-Yellow 

Occurs  with  other  Ni  ores  and  is  treated  with  them. 


MILLER  1TE 


Cu2  Fe  8n  S4 
Ni  S 


Black 

Black 


CHALCOPYRITE 


Cu  Fe  82 


Brass- Yellow 


Greenish  Black 


Is  an  important  ore  of  Cu.  Treatment  nearly  the  same  as  Bornite. 


PYRRHOTITE 


Fe7  8s 


Bronze- Yellow 


Black 


Frequently  contains  Ni  and  is  then  roasted  and  smelted  to  a  high-grade 


MARCASITE 


PYRITE 


Fe  82 

Speiss- Yellow. 

Fe  82 

Light-Yellow 

Black 


Black 


Frequently  contains  An.  Both  it  and  Marcasite  are  used  in  sulphuric  acid 


YELLOW. 


5 


! 

Hardness. 

! 

Tenacity. 

Crystal  System. 

Fracture. 

Sp  Gr. 

2.5 

Malleable 

Isom. 

>19.5 

tion.  Chlorination  and  smelting  are  also  used 

according  to  the  character 

3.25 

Brittle 

Compact 

4.4 

4 

Brittle 

Hexagonal  (r) 

Fibrous 

5 

4 

Sectile  to 
Brittle 

Tetr.  (r) 

1 

i 

Compact 

4.2 

4.5 

Brittle 

Hex  (r) 

Compact 

4.5 

matte. 

1 

6 

Brittle 

Rhombic  (c) 

Granular  to 
Compact 

4.7 

6.5 

Brittle 

Isom  (c) 

Compact 

5 

manufacture. 


<; 


MINERALS  OF  METALLIC  LUSTRE. 


III.  WHITE. 


Name. 

Formula. 

Color 

Streak. 

MERCURY. 

Hg. 

Tin-white 

sYLVANITE. 

Ag  Au  Te4 

Tin-white  to 
Light-grav 

Gray 

BISMUTH. 

Bi 

Reddish- white 

Light-gray 

It  is  the  principal  source  of  the  metal  which  is  obtained  by  sweating  in 
silver  refinery  residues. 


SILVER. 


Ai 


Silver-white. 


Silver-white 


The  metal  is  extracted  from  the  gangne  by  pan-amalgamation  or  smelting, 


H  ESS  IT  K. 


Ag2  Te 


Light  steel-grav 


In  glit-gray 


The  silver  is  sometimes  replaced  by  gold  when  the  mineral  becomes  darker 
smelting. 


ANTIMONY. 

Sb 

Tin-white 

Gray 

AMALGAM. 

Ag  .  Hg4 

Silver-white 

Ash  gray 

PLATINUM. 

Pt 

Silver-white 

Silver-white 

Only  source  of  the  metal.  Found  mostly  in  stream  washings  associated 


WHITE. 


i 


Ha  rdness. 

'  i 

Tenacity. 

Crystal  System. 

F  racture. 

Sp.  Gr. 

Liquid. 

13.2 

1  75. 

Sectile 

Compact 

v*t 

pc 

2.25 

Malh  able  to 
Sectile 

Hex  (r) 

Granular 

9.7 

high-grade  ores  and  treatment  with  hydrochloric  acid  in  low-grade  ores  and 


•g.,)  Malleable  I  Isom  (r)  10.5 

according  to  the  haiation  of  the  ore. 

Malleable  Granular  8.5 

: 

in  color  and  is  known  as  Pktzite.  These  and  other  Tellurides  are  treated  by 


2.75 

Sectile  to 
Brittle 

Hex  (r) 

Granular 

3.25 

Sectile  to 
Brittle 

Isom  <r) 

Compact 

4.5 

1  Malleable 

Isom  (r) 

Granular 

6.6 

10  14 

16  10 


with  gold.  World’s  supply  almost  entirely  from  Russia. 


h 


MINERALS  OF  METALLIC  LUSTRE. 


1 

Name. 

i 

Formula. 

Color. 

1 

Streak. 

LEUCOPYRITE. 

Fe  As2 

Tin-white 

Grayish-blacl 

SMALTITE.’ 

Co  Ni  As2 

Tin-white 

Grayish-blacl 

( Chlounthih ') 

Is  an  occasional  ore  of  Ni.  and  Co. 

When  Ni.  predominates  it  is  slight] 

LI  NN/K1TE 

Co3  S4 

Black 

5.25 

COKALTITE 

Co  S  As 

Grayish-black 

5.5 

ARSENOPYR1TE 

Fe  S  As 

Grayish-black 

5.5 

( Mispickel ) 

Is  used  in  the  manufacture  of  As.  and  its  sulphides  by  distillation  proces 

IV  GRAY. 

MOLYBDENITE 

1 

Mo  S2 

Reddisli-lead  gray 

Greenish-blac 

SYLVAN  ITE 

Ag  Au  Te4 

Light-steel  gray 

Gray 

Is  a  valuable  ore  of  Au.  When  gold  predominates  over  the  silver  the  gra 

PYROLUSITE 

Mu  02 

| 

Dark  steel-gray 

Black 

fs  used  in  the  manufacture  of  Ferro-Mangan  or  >Spiegel-eisen;  also  for  t 


WHITE. 

• 

Hardnessr 

1 .... _ 

Tenacity. 

Crystal  System. 

Fracture. 

Sp.  Gr 

5. 

Brittle 

Rhombic  (r) 

Granular 

(5.8 

5. 

11 

Brittle 

Isom  (e) 

Compact 

(5.8 

irder. 

Streak. 

Black 

Brittle 

Isom  (o) 

Granular 

4.9 

Gray-black 

Brittle 

Isom  (c) 

Granular 

(5. 

Grav-black 

' 

Brittle 

Rhombic  (c) 

Compact  to 
Granular 

.(? 

ometimes  contains  Cobalt,  which  would  be  indicated  by  a  reddish  tint. 


Hardness 

1.5 

Sectile 

Hexagonal 

Leafy 

4.(5 

1.75 

Sectile 

(?) 

Fibrous  to 
Compact 

5.7  to  S 

y  is  greater. 

Is  a  smelting  ore  like  other  Telltirides. 

2. 

Sectile  to 
Brittle 

Rhombic  (o) 

Fibrous 

4.8 

I 


reduction  of  Chlorine  gas. 


MINERALS  OF  METALLIC  LT’STRE. 


10 


N  a  me. 

Formula. 

Color 

Streak. 

ST1BNITE 

Sb2  S3 

Lead-gray 

Grayish-black 

• 

Is  practically  the  only  ore  of  Sb,  which  is  obtained  from  it  by  melting  in! 

the  lower  grade  ores  it  is  separated  from  the  gangue  rock,  prior  to  above  opera-; 
. 

ARGENTITE 
(Silver  filtt nee) 

Ag2  S 

Iron-black 

Dark-grav 

Is  a  valuable  ore  of  Ag.  When  the  baser  metals  are 
treated  by  the  “Russell”  or  other  leaching  processes. 

present  must  be 

H  ESS  IT  R. 

A g2  Te 

Light  steel-gray 

Light-gray 

1  Inscribed  under  White. 

I 

[ 

CLAl'S' THAI.  Ill- 

Pb  Se 

Lead-gray 

Grayish-black 

GALKNITE 

( Galena ) 

Pb  S 

Reddish  Lead-gray 

Dark-gray 

Is  the  principal  ore  of  lead,  which  is  obtained  from  it  by  roasting  and  sub] 
frequently  contains  silver,  in  which  ease  the  silver  is  refined  from  the  lead  bv! 
“Parkes”  or  other  processes. 

y 

CHALCOCITE 

Cu2  S 

Black  Lead-gray 

Dark-gray 

Treatment  same  as  Rornite,  except  that  less  roasting  is  needed. 

BOURNOMTE 

] 

Cu  Pb  Sb  S3  ! 

1 

Ir<  >n- 

Grayish-black  : 

(Hi  AY. 


11 


Hardness. 

T  enacity. 

Crystal  System. 

F  racture. 

“ 

Sectile 

Rhombic  (r) 

F1 

I ibrous 

Sp.  Gr. 

4.5 


crucible  with  iron  filings  or  scraps;  producing  pure  Sb.  and  an  iron  matte.  In 
tion,  by  sweating. 


Malleable  ;  Isom  (r) 


Compact 


smelted.  When  these  are  absent,  or  present  only  in  small  quantity,  can  be 


2.5 

Malleable 

1 

(?) 

Granular 

6.5 

2.5 

i 

Sectile 

Isom  (r) 

Granular 

!  « 

i 

2.75 

V 

Sectile  to 
Brittle 

Isom  (c) 

Granular  to 
Compact 

7.5 

sequent  reduction  in  blast  or  reverberatory  furnaces  to  metallic  lead.  It  also 
eupellation  mostly  preceded  by  concentration  of  the  silver  in  the  bullion  by  the 


i  Sectile  to 
I  Malleable 


Rhombic  (r) 


Compact 


o.  ( 


:i 


Brittle 


Rhombic  (o) 


Compact 


12 


MINERALS  OF  METALLIC  LUSTRE. 


Name. 

Formula. 

Color. 

| 

Streak. 

! 

STEPHANITE 
(Brittle  Bit  err  Ore) 

A g5  Sb  S4 

Steel-gray 

Grayish-black 

! 

High  grade  silver  ore. 

PYRARGYRITE 

(Ruby  Silver ) 

Ag3  Sb  S3 

1 

Reddish-grav 

1 

Cherry-red 

Is  high  grade  ore  of  silver;  is  smelted  with  lead-silver  or  copper-silver  ores. 

TETRAHEDRITE 

(Gray  Copper ) 

Cua  Sb2  S7 

Steel-gray  to 
Iron-black 

Black  to 
Brownish-red 

It  frequently  contains  silver,  in  which  case  it  is  smelted  with  other  copper- 
is  slightly  lighter  in  color  and  streak. 

STANNITE 

Cu.FeSn  S4 

Steel-gray 

Black 

ARSENIC 

As 

Light  Lead-gray 

Black 

MANGANITE 

Mn2  03  H2  O 

Steel-gray  to 
Iron-black 

Dark-brown 

GERSDORFFITE 

Ni  S  As 

Light-gray 

Grayish-black 

SMALTIT  E.  Described  under  White  minerals 

Also  occurs  as 

J  RON 

C Meteoric ) 

Fe 

Steel  gray 

Gray 

POLIANITE 
( Var.  Pyrolusite ) 

Mn  02 

Light-steel  gray 

Grayish-black 

OKAY 


Hardness.  ;  Tenacity. 


Sectile  to 
Brittle 


Sectile  to 
Brittle 


Crystal  System.!  Fracture. 


Rhombic  (r) 


Hexagonal  (T) 


Compact 


Compact 


13 


Sp  Gr. 


o.H 


5.8 


3.5 


Brittle 


Isom  (c) 


Compact 


silver  ore.  The  arsenical  variety  of  Tetrahedrite  is  known  as  Tennantile.  and 


3.5 

Brittle 

(?) 

Fine  Granular 

4.4 

4 

Brittle 

Hexagonal  (o) 

Granular 

5.9 

4  25 

Brittle 

Rhombic  (o) 

Fibrous 

4.5 

5 

Brittle 

Isom  (o) 

Granular 

<5 

Gray. 


I  6 

Malleable 

Compact 

« 

Brittle 

Rhombic  (o) 

Granular 

14 


MINERALS  OF  METALLIC  LUSTRE. 


Name. 

Formula. 

Color. 

Streak. 

RUTILE 

Ti  02 

Reddish-gray 

Yellowish-gray 

Has  no  practical  use  and  seriously  impairs  the  value  of  iron  ores,  with 


HEMATITE 


Fe2  03 


Steel-gray  to 
Iron-black 


Dark-red 


Is  an  important  ore  of  Iron,  which  is  obtained  from  it  by  reduction  in 

V  BLACK. 


GRAPHITE 


C 


Iron -black 


Black  (glisten’g) 


It  is  used  in  the  manufacture  of  lead  pencils,  crucibles,  lubricants,  etc. 

PYROLUSITE 
ARGENTITE 


Also  occur  Grav  and  are  described  under  Gray 


POLYBASITE 

STEPHANITE 

BOURNONITE 

ENARGITE 


A g9  Sb  S6 


Iron-black 


Black 


Also  occur  Gray  and  are  described  under  Gray 


Cu  -  As  S4 


Iron-black 


Black 


TETRAITEDRITE  | 


MANGANITE 


i 


Also  occur  Gray  and  are  described  uuder  Gray 


GRAY. 


Hardness. 

Tenacity. 

| 

Crystal  System. 

Fracture. 

Sp.  Gr. 

jy  '  1 

6.25 

Brittle 

Tetr  (o) 

Compact 

4.2 

which  it  is  frequently  associated. 

6.5 

Britt  le 

Hexagonal  (o) 

Compact  to 
Granular 

4.8 

>last  furnaces.  Titanium, 

Phosphorus  and  Sulphur  impair  its 

quality. 

s 

1 

Sectile 

(?) 

Compact 

2.1 

Minerals. 

2.5 

Sectile  to 
Brittle 

c» 

Com  pact 

6.2 

Minerals. 

8 

Brittle 

Rhombic  (o) 

Compact 

4.4 

Minerals, 

16 

MINERALS  OF  METALLIC  LUSTRE. 

1 

Name. 

Formula. 

Color. 

Streak. 

—  fl 

MAGNETITE 

Fe3  ( )4 

In  m-black 

Black 

1 

v 

It  is  an  important  ore  of  iron.  Treatment  same  as  Hematite. 


1 1  ,M ENITE 
(  Titanic  Iron  Ore) 


las  Ti,  Oh 


Iron-black 


Blackish-brown 


When  associated  with  Magnetite,  it  renders  it  difficult  to  smelt  when  pres- 


CH ROM  I TK 
( Chrome  Iran  Ore) 


Fe  Cr2  (>4 


Ir<  m-black 


Brown 


Is  used  in  the  manufacture  of  paints  and  certain  grades  of  steel. 


liRAUNITE 

FRANK  UNITE 

RUTILE 

HEMATITE 


Mn2  ()3 


Zn  Fe2  ()4 


Iron-black 


Iron -black 


Brownish-black 


Brown 


Also  occur  grav  and  are  described  under  Gray  Minerals 


. 


BLACK. 


17 


1 

Hardness. 

Tenacity. 

Crystal  System. 

F  racture. 

1  R5 

Brittle 

Regular  (c) 

Granular 

<» 

1 

Bi’ittle 

I 

Hexagonal  (r) 

Compact  to 
Granular 

4.7 

ent  in  at  all  large  quantity. 

Even  small  quantities  are  troublesome. 

!  « 

Brittle 

1 

Isom,  (o) 

Compact  to 
Granular 

4.3 

0.25 

Brittle 

Tetr.  (o) 

Compact 

4.5 

1  0.25 

Brittle 

Isom,  (o) 

Compact  to 
Granular 

5 

Minerals  of  Sub-Metallic 


Opaque  and  of 

I.  BLACK 


Nami'. 


i  i 

IChemicali  T  . 

„  .  Lustre. 

Formula. 


Color. 


Streak. 


ASPHALTUM  Ci4  H , 8  O  Resinous  !  Black  j  Brownish  black 


Is  used  for  makin.tr  water-proof  paper,  roofing,  paint  and  paving  purposes, 
lighter  and  more  volatile  oils. 


COVELLITE 

BITUMINOUS 

COAL 


Cu  S 


j  Resinous  to 
Adamantine 


C9  H7  ()  |  Sub  metallic 


Indigo  blue 
Black 


Black 

Black 


Is  a  strong  steam  coal.  Coking  coals  are  of  this  variety. 


ANTHRACITF 

COAL 


C4o  Hi6  0! Sub  metallic!  Black 


Black 


Is  the  strongest  natural  fuel.  Is  used  in  iron  blast  furnaces  with  the  hot 
ENARGITE  Is  described  under  Minerals  of  Metallic  Lustre. 


URAN1NITE 
(Pitch  Blcml) 


U;  O 


3  '-'I 


Resinous  ;  Black 


Black  to  brown 


Used  as  a  source  of  Uranium  Salts  for  glass  and  porcelain  coloring  and 


and  Non-Metallic  Lustre 


Colored  Streak. 

STREAK. 


Hardness.  Tenacity.  Crystal  System.  Fracture.  Sp.  Gr. 


1.25 


Sectile  I  Amorphous 


Compact  |  1.5 


For  tli  >  latter  purpose  especially  it  should  lie  free  from  the  admixture  of  the 


2.5 

Sectile  to 
Brittle 

Hexagonal  (r) 

Compact  to 
Granular 

2.5 

Sectile  to 
Brittle 

Amorphous 

Compact  to  Slaty 

2.75 

Brittle 

Amorphous 

Conchoidal 

lilast. 

Black  Minerals. 

5.5 

Brittle 

(?) 

Compact 

chemical  uses. 


0 


*20  MINERALS  OF  SUB- METALLIC  AND  NON-METALLIC  LUSTRE. 


' 

-  I 


Name. 

Chemical 

Formula. 

Lustre. 

Color. 

Streak.  1 

COLUMB1TE 

Fe  Nb  Ta  06 

Sub  metallic 

Black 

Brownish  black 

PSILOMELANE 

(Ba  K2) 
Mn4  09 
H20 

% 

Sub  metallic 

Black 

1 

Blackish  brown 

P.RAUNITE 

RUTILE 

V  Also  occur  under  Black  Minerals  of  Metallic  Lus-  i 

1  * 

II.  OF  BROWN 

ELAT  ERITE 

C2  H2n 

Resinous 

Dark  Brown 

Light  Brown 

WAD 

( Bog  Manganese) 

2  Mn  02 

H20 

Shiny 

Brown 

Brown 

Uses  same  as  Pyrolusite.  Is  often  quite  impure,  containing  Ba,  La,  K,  etc. 


OZOCERITE 
{Earth-  Wax) 


Cn 


H2 


Waxy- 


Brown 


Used  in  manufacture  of  Paraffin  for  paper,  etc. 


Light  Brown 


CHLOR  OPAL 


Fe2  Si5Oi3 

9  H2o 


Earthy  to 
Resinous 


Liver  Brown 


Liver  Brown 

I 


LIGNITE 

( Brown  Coal) 


C3  H30 


Resinous 


Brown  to 
Black 


I 

Dark  Brown 


Differs  from  Bituminous  Coal  mainly  in  its  greater  percentage  of 
coal  and  the  more  readily  will  it  air-slack.  The  higher  grades  are  called  semi- 


BROWN  STREAK. 


•21 


Hardness. 

Tenacity. 

Crystal  System. 

! 

Fracture. 

Sp.  Gr. 

6 

Brittle 

1 

Bhombie 

| 

Compact 

6 

6.26 

Brittle 

1  ^  » 

i  j 

i 

Compact 

4 

tre. 

STREAK. 


1 

Malleable 

Compact 

1 

Sectile 

Earthy 

1.25 

Malleable 

I 

Compact 

1.75 

Sectile 

Compact 

t 

1 

2.5 

Sectile  to 
Brittle 

Conclioidal  to 
Uneven 

water.  The  higher  the  per  cent,  of  water  the  lower  the  heating  effect  of  the 

bituminous. 


M 


22 


MINERALS  OF  SUB-METALLIC  AND  NON-METALLIC  LUSTRE. 


Name. 

Chemical 

Formula. 

Lustre. 

Color. 

Streak. 

CHRYSOCOLLA 

Cu  Fes  Si 

Vitreous  to 

Brown  to 

Red-Brown 

( Impure  Variety) 

Oi5  5  H20 

Resinous 

Black 

This  mineral  pure  is  of  apple-green.  In  this  variety  the  copper  is  largely 

SIDERITE 

Is  an  occasional  ore  of  iron  producing  a  metal  exceptionally  free  from  sul- 


T7  ^  /a  !  Vitreous  to  Light  I  ,  ■  ,  ,  -r. 

Fe  C  °3  I  Resinous  Brown  Ll*ht  Brow11 


SPHALERITE 

{Zinc  Blend) 


Zn  S 


Vitreous  to 
Pearly 


Black  to 
Brown 


Brown 


Is  the  principal  ore  of  zinc,  which  is  obtained  from  it  by  roasting  it  to  an 
torts.  To  much  iron  pyrites  with  zinc  blend  injures  or  spoils  it,  the  iron  cor- 


GOTHITE 

( Needle  Iron  Stone 


Fe2  03 

h2o 


Silky  to 
Adamantine 


Black  brown 


Yellow-brown 


Treatment  same  as  Hematite. 

WOLFRAMITE 

LIMONITE 


(Fe  Mn) 
W  04 


2  Fe2  03 
3  H2  O 


Sub  metallic 
Resinous 


Black 

Brown 


Brown 

Yellowish- 

Brown 


Is  an  important  ore  of  iron.  It  is  generally  associated  with  more  or  less 
ina  for  slag  formation. 


PSILOMELANE 

RUTILE 


Also  occur,  respectively,  under  black  streak  and 


* 


BROWN  STREAK. 


BROWN  STREAK. 

23 

Hardness. 

Tenacdy. 

1 

Crystal  System. 

Fracture. 

Sp  Gr. 

„  . 

Brittle 

Amorphous 

Conchoidal 

2.1 

replaced  by  iron.  Is  an  unimportant  ore  of  copper. 

4 

Brittle 

Hexagonal  (o) 

Granular 

3.8 

phur  and  phosphorous  and  commanding  a  premium. 

4 

Brittle 

Isom,  (c) 

Compact  to 
Granular 

4 

oxide  and  distilling  the  metal  from  a  mixture  of  the  oxide  and  fuel  placed  in  re- 

roding  the  retorts. 

4.5 

Brittle 

Rhombic  (r) 

Fibrous 

4.3 

j 

5 

Brittle 

Monoclinic  (o) 

Fiberous  to 
Granular 

7.2 

5.5 

Brittle 

Fiberous  to 

Earthy 

3.7 

clay, which  will  slightly  lessen  its  hardness,  but  it  is  valuable  as  supplying  Alum- 

okay  Minerals  of  Metallic  Lustre. 


‘24 


MINERALS  OF  NON- METALLIC  AND  SUB- METALLIC  LUSTRE. 


Name. 

Chemical 

Formula. 

Lustre. 

Color. 

CASSITERITE 

— 

Sub  metallic 

S11  02 

Dark  Brown 

( Tin  Slone) 

Adamantine 

III.  RED 


Streak. 


Light  Brown 

Is  the  only  ore  of  tin,  which  is  reduced  from  the  finely  powdered  ore  with 


CINNABAR 


I 


Hg  S  Adamantine 


Cochineal 

Red 


Scarlet 


Is  practically  the  only  ore  of  Mercury,  which  is  obtained  from  it  by  distil- 


ERYTHRITE 
(('ohalt  Bloom) 

PROUSTITE 

Light  Ruby  Silver 


Co3  As2  Os 
8  H2  O 

Ag3  As  S3 


Vitreous  to 
Pearly 

Adamantine 


Crimson 

Cochineal 

Red 


Light  Crimson 
Scarlet 


High  grade  ore  of  silver.  Occurs  mostly  with  smelting  ores. 

P\  R  ARG\  RI  TE  Is  described  under  Gray  Minerals  of  Metallic  Lustre. 


CUPRITE 

( Oxide  of  Copper) 


Cu2  O 


Sub  metallic 
to 

Adamantine 


Carmine 


Brownish-red 


Is  an  important  ore  of  copper,  which  is  obtained  from  it  by  reduction  in 
HEMATITE  Also  occurs  under  Black  Minerals  of  Metallic  Lustre  and 


TU  RGITE 


2  Fe2  O, 
H2  O 


Silky 


Dark-red 


Dark-red 


Treatment  same  as  Limonite,  of  which  it  is  a  variety. 


RED  STREAK. 


'Z.y 


Hardness.  Tenacty.  Crystal  System.  Fracture. 


(5.5 


Brittle 


™  I 


charcoal  in  small  blast  furnaces,  or  coal  in  reverberatory  furnaces. 


lation. 


2.5 

2.75 


Sectile  Hexagonal  (o) 


Granular 


Sectile  to 
Brittle 

Sectile  to 
Brittle 


Monoclinic  (r)  Fibrous 

Hexagonal  (r)  Compact 


Sp  Gr. 

6.8 


1). 


o.o 


Brittle  !  Isom  (o) 


Compact  6 


blast  or  reverberatory  furnaces. 


is  there  described. 


o.o 


Brittle 


Fibrous 


5.7 


* 


120 


MINERALS  OF  SUB-METALLIC  ASP  NON-METALLIC  LUSTRE. 


II.  YELLOVy 


Name. 


[(  h-'micalj 
Formula. 


Lustre. 


Color. 


Streak. 


A  great  many  minerals  of  non-Metallic  Lustre  and  colorless  streak  have  al 
purity. 


Al3  Fe5  SC!  ;  | 

YELLOW  OCHRE!  _  0*4  I  Earthy  1  Yellow  |  Yellow 


1  8H2O  | 

When  dried  and  ground  with  oil  used  for  paint. 


TORBERNITE 


IODVRITK 


Ca  U4  P2  1 


o„ 

8  H2  O 


Ag  I 


Vitreous 

Waxv 


Greenish- 

Yellow 


Sulphur- 

Yellow 


Sulphur- 

Yellow' 


Light- Yellow  i 

It  occurs  associated  with  chloride  of  silver  and  is  treated  in  the  same  way.  j 


1 


ORl’lMENT 

REALGAR 


|  As2  S3 


As  S 


Resinous  to 

Lemon- 

Pearly 

Yellow 

Resinous  to 
Adamantine 

Red 

Lemon-Yellow 


Orange- Yellow 


Both  Realgar  and  Orpiment  when  produced  artificially  in  the  flue-cham- 


SULPHUR 


s 


Resinous  i  Yellow 


Yellow 


Is  used  in  the  manufacture  of  matches,  sulphuric  acid,  etc.  Earthy  un¬ 
cial  article. 


i  Pb  Cr  04 


Red  |  Orange-Yellov 


CROCOriK 


Vitreous 


YELLOW  STREAK. 


27 


STREAK. 


Hardness. 

Tenacity. 

Crystal  System. 

Fracture. 

Sp.  Gr. 

times  a  Yellow  or  Brown  streak,  owing  to  the  presence  of  iron  oxide  as  an  ini 

1 

Sectile 

Amorphous 

Earthy 

3.7 

1 

2 

Sectile 

Tetr  (o) 

Leafy 

2 

Sectile  to 
Malleable 

Hexagonal  (r) 

Compact 

5.6 

Sectile 

Rhombic  (o) 

Granular 

- 

Sectile  to 

Brittle 

Monoclinic  (o) 

Compact  to 

Earthy 

. 

3.5 

tiers  of  .‘•melting  furnaces  are  purified  for  coloring  matters. 

2 

Sectile  to 

Brittle 

. 

Rhombic  (c) 

Compact  to 

Splintery 

2.1 

purities  frequently  give  a  brown  tint  to  both  color  and  streak  of  the  commer 

Or 

2.5 

Sectile 

Monoclinic  (r) 

Compact 

0 

28 


MINERALS  OF  NON-METALLIC  AND  SUB-METALLIC!  LUSTRE. 


-  j 


Name. 

Chemical 

Formula. 

i 

Lustre. 

Color. 

Streak. 

GUM  MITE 

U2  03 

3  H2  O 

Greasy 

Reddish- 

Yellow 

Yellow 

PHARMACOSIDERITE 

Fg8  A.S20 1 7 

15  H2Q 

Vitreous 

Greenish- 

Yellow 

Greenish- 

Yellow 

GREENOCKITE 

Cd  S 

Greasy 

Yellow 

Yellow 

VANADINITE 

Pb3V  O12 
01 

Resinous 

Yellow  to 

Brown 

Pale-Yellow 

OLIVENITE 

Cu4  As2  Og 

h2  0 

Resinous  to 
Silky 

Green 

Light-Yellow 

CACOXEMTE 

Fe4  P2  On 
12  H2  O 

Silky 

Yellow 

Straw-Yellow 

PYROMORPHITE 

Pt>3  K  Os 

Resinous  to 
Vitreous 

Greenish- 

Yellow 

Pale- Yellow 

SPHALERITE 

LIMONITE 

CASSITERITE 

)■  Also  occur  under  Minerals  of  Brown  Streak,  and 

RUTILE 

I 

• 

ZINCITE 

Zn  0 

Adamantine 

Red 

Orange-Yellow 

It  is  an  ore  of  Zinc.  Treatment  same  as  Sphalerite,  except  that  no  roast-  |j 


YELLOW  STHEAK. 


Ha  rd  ness. 

Tenacity. 

' 

Crystal  System. 

F  ractu  re. 

Sp.  Gr 

2.5 

Scctile 

Conclioidal 

4.1 

2.5 

Sectile 

Isom  (o) 

' 

Compact 

3 

3 

Brittle 

Hexagonal  (c) 

Earthy 

4.S 

3 

Brittle 

Hexagonal  (c) 

Granular 

(5.9 

3.5 

Brittle 

Rhombic  (r) 

Fibrous 

4.3 

3.5 

Brittle 

Fibrous 

3.4 

3.5 

Brittle 

Hexagonal  (c) 

Compact  to 

Fibrous 

(5.7 

aro  there  described. 


4 


Brittle 


Hexagonal  (r) 


Granular 


5.5 


ing  is  required.  Its  color  is  due  to  the  presence  of  some  Manganese. 


30 


MINERALS  OF  SUB-METALLIC  AND  NON- METALLIC  LUSTRE. 


V.  GREEN 


Name. 

Chemical 

Formula. 

Lustre. 

Color. 

Streak. 

BROMYRITE 

Ag  Br 

Resinous 

Yellowish- 

Green 

Yellowish- 

Green 

Occurs  in  small  quantity  with  Cerargyrite,  and  treatment  the  same. 


CHLOROPAL 


AND 

TORBERNITE 


-  Occur  also  under  Brown  and  Yellow  Streak  re- 


CHLORITE 

(vnr  Ripidolite) 

Hydrous 
Silicate 
A1  and  Ng 

Vitreous  to 
Pearly 

Dark -grass 
Green 

Gray-Green 

chalcophyllite 

Cu7As20  i  x 
14  H2  O 

Earthy  to 

Pearly 

Emerald- 

Green 

Pale-Green 

CHRYSOCOLLA 

Cu  Si  03 

2  H2O 

Vitreous 

Apple- 

Green 

, 

Blue-Green 

Is  an  oxidized  ore  of  copper,  widely  distributed,  but  found  in  small  quan- 


MALACHITE 


H2  O 


| 

Earthy  to 

Emerald- 

*  Silky 

1 

Green 

Emerald-Green 


An  oxidized  ore  of  On.  Treatment  same  as  cuprite.  It  is  also  used  for  or- 


OLIVENITE 

ATACAMITE 

DIOPTASE 


Also  occurs  of  Yellow  Streak. 


Cu2  03  Cl2 
3  H2  O 

Cu  Si  03 
H2  O 


Vitreous 

Vitreous 


Emerald- 

Green 


Emerald  Green 
Green  |  Blue-Green 


Some  Hornblende’s  and  Spinell’s  have  at  times  a  Green  streak. 


GREEN  STREAK. 


STREAK. 


Hardness. 

Tenacity. 

Crystal  System. 

Malleable 

Isom,  (r) 

sportively. 

2.5 

Seetile 

Monoclinic  (T) 

2.5 

Brittle 

Hexagonal  (r) 

3.5 

Seetile  to 

Brittle 

Amorphous 

(ity. 

'3.5 

Brittle 

Monoclinic  (r) 

uamental  purposes. 

3.75 

Brittle 

Rhombic  (r) 

4.75 

Brittle 

Hex  (r) 

Fracture, 
Com  pact 

Leafy 

Earthy 

Compact 

Earthy  to 
Fibrous 

Compact 

Compact 


MINERALS  OF  SUB-METALLIC  AND  NON-METALLIC  LUSTRE. 


312 


VI.  BLUE 


Name. 

Chemical 

Formula. 

Lustre. 

Color. 

Streak. 

YIVIANITE 

Fe3  P2  Os 
8  H2  0 

Earthy  to 

Pearly 

Dark-Blue 

Indigo-Blue 

AZURITE 

Cu3  C2  07 
H2  0 

Vitreous 

Dark-Blue 

Blue 

Occasional  ore 

of  Cu. 

Treatment  like  cuprite. 

LAPIS  LAZULI 

NaCl  Si  04 

V  itreous 

Azure-Blue 

Smalt-Blue 

Used  for  ornament;  contains  some  sulphur. 

CHRYSOCOLLA  ) 

f-  Described  under  Green  Streak. 

DIOPTASE  ) 

FLUORITE  j  '  ^ 

HORNBLENDE  }>-  Some  varieties  of  these  minerals  have  a  bluish 

TURM  ALINE 


RLt'E  STREAK. 


STREAK. 


Hardness. 

Tenacity. 

Crystal  System. 

Fracture. 

Sp  G 

2.5 

Seotile 

Monoclinic  (o) 

Fibrous 

2.5 

,T, 

Brittle 

Monoclinic  (c) 

Compact 

5.7 

5.5 

Brittle 

Isom  (r) 

Compact 

2.3 

streak.  They  are  described  under  Colorless  Streak. 


Minerals  of  Non- 


And  White  or 


* 

N  a  me. 

Chemical 

Formula. 

Lustre. 

Color. 

PETRC  )LEUM 

c  h2 

Light  brown 
Black 

It  is  used  as  a  lubric; 
Ethane. 

int,  fuel,  illuminant,  etc.  The  different  products  be- 

SCHKERERITK 

C  h2 

Pearly 

Light  yellow 

TALC 

Mg38i40ii 

h2  o 

Pearly 

White  and 
Green 

Sometimes  used  as  an  adulterant  for  sugar,  Hour  and  paint. 

AI.UMINITE 

(Soluble) 

Ala  S  06 

9  H2  0 

Earthy 

White 

Native  Alum. 

NATRON 

(Carbonate  of  Soda) 

Na2  C  ()2 

10  II2  0 

Earthy 

White 

Occurs  associated  with  mirabilite  iu  some  of  the  Wyoming  soda  lakes. 


Metallic  Lustre. 

Gray  Streak. 


Hardness. 

Tenacity. 

Crystal  System. 

Fracture. 

Sp.  Gr. 

Fluid 

|  ! 
• 

i 

.6— .75 

ing  separated  by  fractional  distillation.  Consists  of  Polymers  of  Methane  and 

1 

Malleable 

Compact 

1.1 

1 

Hectile 

(?) 

Compact  to 

Leafy 

2.7 

1 

Sectile 

Earthy 

2.6 

1-35 

Brittle 

Monoclinic 

Granular 

1.4 

With  this  exception  is  generally  found  in  small  quantities. 


MINERALS  OF  NON-METALLK ’  LUSTRE. 


36 


Name. 

|  Chemical 
Formula. 

Lustre. 

I 

Color. 

1 _ _ 

I’Y  ROPIIYLITE 

Al2  Si4  On 
H2() 

! 

Pearly 

White  to 
Greenish 

CERARGYRITE 
( Horn  xil rer) 

Ag  Cl 

Waxy 

Gray-Brown 

Greenish-Brown 

Is  a  valuable  ore  of  silver  which  is  generally  extracted  from  it  by  leaching 

s  \SSOLITE 

b2  0, 

3  H2  0 

Fea  rly 

White  to  Yellow 

SODA  NITRE 

1 

Na  N  03 

1 

Vitreous 

White 

Is  used  in  manufacture  of  Nitric  acid. 

ertilizers,  etc.  Occurs  in  large  de- 

\I  I RABILITK 
( G  limber*  Snllx) 

Na2  8  0; 

9  H2  O 

Vitreous 

White 

Is  used  in  the  manufacture  of  crude  soda,  glass,  etc.  Occurs  in  large  de- 

CHRYSOTIEE 

Var.  Asbcstuft 

Mg3  Si->  O7  ] 
2  H2  O 

Soapy 

Green  or  Brown 

GYPSUM 

Ca  S02 

2  H2  0 

Soapy  to 

Pearly 

White  to  Brown 

When  burned  in  kilns  to  remove  water  of  crvstalization  forms  plaster  of 

MELANTE.RITE 
(Iron  Vitriol) 

Fe  S  04 

7  H2  O 

Vitreous 

Green  or  White 

It  is  native  copperas. 

When  in  quantity  produces  “Nordhausen”  sulphuric 

BRUCITE 

Mg  0 

H2  0 

Pearly 

White 

WHITE  OR  GRAY  STREAK. 


•  >— 
■  >  < 


Hardness. 

Tenac  ity. 

Crystal  System. 

1.5 

Brittle 

1.5 

Malleable 

Isometric  (r) 

process  when  there  is  not  too  much  base  metal 


1.5 

Sectile 

(V) 

1.5 

Brittle 

Hex.  (r) 

Fracture.  ; 

Compact 

Fibrous 

Compact 

present. 

Fibrous 

Granular 


Sp.  Gr. 

2.8 


5.4 


1.5 


2.1 


posits  in  Chili. 

i 

1.7  i  Brittle 


Monoclinic  (o) 


! 

Granular 


l.fi 


posits  in  Wyoming. 


•  > 

Sectile  to 

(?) 

Brittle 

‘> 

Sectile  to 
Brittle 

Monoclinic  (o) 

Fibrous 


Granular  to 

Fibrous 


2.5 


Paris  when  the  mineral  is  white.  Impure  varieties  form  part  of  many  cements. 


Brittle  Monoclinic  («> ) 


acid  by  simple  distillation. 

Sectile 


Hexagi  >ual 


Compact 


Leafy  to 

Fibrous 


1.8 


1.7 


0 


38 


MINERALS  OF  NON -METALLIC  LUSTRE. 


Name. 


(  h'mical 
Formula. 


Lustre. 


Color. 


SULPHUR.  Described  under  minerals  of  Yellow  Streak. 


SEPIOLITE 

( Meerschaum) 


Mg4  Si6  O16 
3  H2  0 


Earth  v 


White  when  pure 


Finer  varieties  are  used  for  tobacco  pipes  and  other  small  ornamental 


TINCAL 
(Nat ire  Borax) 


|NaBQ2  3H3()  Resinous  1  White  or  Gray 


Occurs  in  solution  in  small  lakes  in  Tuscanv  and  California.  Obtained  by 


CHALCANTHITE 
(Blue,  Vitriol ) 


Cu  SO/  5H20  Vitreous 


Blue 


Occurs  in  the  water  issuing  from  copper  bearing  veins,  some  times  in  snf- 
water  over  scrap  iron  in  a  series  of  tanks,  producing  cement  copper. 


GOSLAR1TE 
(Zinc  Vitriol) 


EPSOMITE 
(Epsom  Salts) 


Zn  S  04  7  H2  0 
IMgS  04  7  H2  O 


Vitreous 


Vitreous 


White  to  Gray 


White  when  pure 


Occurs  in  solution  in  some  alkaline  lakes  and  mineral  springs. 


ANNABERGITF. 

( Nickle  Bloom) 


I.EPIDOLITE 

( Lithium  Mica ) 


Ni3  As2  Os 
8  H2  O 


Li  Iv3  Al5  Si4  Oi8 


Earthy 
Pearl  v 


Apple  green 
Pink  to  brown 


Its  presence  may  sometimes  be  taken  as  an  indication  of  Lithia  Salts  in 


WHITE  OK  GRAY  STREAK. 


39 


Ha  rd  ness. 

Tenacity. 

Crystal  System. 

b  racture. 

2.25 

Sectile 

Amorphous 

Earthy  to 
Conchoidal 

articles. 

2.25 

! 

Seetile  to 
Brittle 

Monoclinic  (o) 

Compact 

evaporation  o 

f  their  waters,  forms  the  crude  borax  of  commerce. 

2.25 

Brittle 

Triclinic  (c) 

| 

Compact 

fieient  quantity  to  justify 

saving  the  copper, 

which  is  done  l 

2.25 

Brittle 

Rhombic  (o) 

Granular 

2  25 

Brittle 

Rliomlnc  (r) 

G  rrraular 

2.25 

Seetile  to 
Brittle 

Mouoclinic  (r) 

Earthy 

2.5 

Sectile 

Monoclinic  (r) 

Leafy 

Sp.  Gr. 


1.1 


9  9 


2.  9 


tile 


neighboring'  springs. 


40  MINERALS  OF  NON- METALLIC  LUSTRE. 


Name. 

Chemical 

Formula. 

Lustre. 

Color. 

MUSCOVITE 

( Potash  Mica) 

H  K  Ala  Si2  Os 

Pearly 

Gray  or 

light  brown 

When  in  large  enough  crystals  to  obtain  slabs  two  inches  or  more  square 

finest  qualities  should  be  free  from  cloudiness  or  discoloration. 

♦ 

BIOTITE 

( Magnesia  Mica) 

K2  Mg6  Fe  Al4 
Si7  O28 

Pearly 

Hark  brown 

to  black 

CHLORITE 

(RipidolUe) 

Mg5  Ala  Hia  O14 
4  Ha  O 

Pearly 

Green 

HALITE 

( /lock  Salt) 

Na  01 

Vitreous 

White  when  pure 

Common  salt  of  commerce.  Is  found 
water. 

as  a  deposit  and  mined  at  various! 

SYLVITE 

K  Cl 

Vitreous 

White 

SUCCINITE 

(Amber) 

c10  hi6  0 

Resinous 

Yellow  or  brown : 

Used  for  mouth  pieces  to  pipes  and  ornamental  carvings. 


YALENTINITE 


Sb2  03 


Adamantine 


White  or  yellow 


Occurs  with  Stibnite  and  is  an  occasional  ore  of  antimony. 


HYDROZINCITE 
( Zinc  bloom,) 

CARNALLITTE 


Zn3  C  05  2H2  O 
IK  Cl  Mg  Cl2 

6  Ha  O 


Earthy  ' 
Vitreous 


White 


White  or  red 


Is  mined  largely  at  Stassfurth,  Germany,  and  used  in  the  manufacture  ol 


WHITE  OK  OKAY  STKKAK. 


4! 


Hardness.  Tenacity.  Crystal  System.  Fracture.  Sp  Gr. 


Sectile 


Monoclinie  (o) 


Leafy 


and  transparent  forms  the  isinglass  of  commerce  and  is  sold  by  the  pound.  The 


2.5 

j  Brittle  to 
Sectile 

Monoclinic  (o) 

Leafy 

2.9 

2.5 

Sectilc 

Monoclime  (o) 

Compact  to 

Fibrous  j 

2.7 

2.5 

Brittle 

1 

Isometric  (c) 

Granular 

2.1 

places.  AJso  obtained  by  evaporation  of  water  from  saline  springs  and  sea 


2.5 

Brittle 

Isometric 

Granular 

1.9 

2.5 

l 

Brittle 

Conehoidal 

1 

2.5 

Sectile 

Rhombic  (o) 

Fibrous 

5.5 

2.5 

Sectile 

Earthy 

:u> 

2.75 

Brittle 

Rhombic  (o) 

Granular 

2 

I  ’<  (tassium  compounds. 


MINERALS  OF  NON -METALLIC  LUSTRE. 


Name. 

Chemica! 

1 

Lustre. 

- - , 

I 

Formula. 

Color. 

1 

ULAUBKRI  1  F, 

1  Na2  Ca  Os 

Vitreous 

~ 

White  or  Yelk} 

M  ELI.  1  1  K 

A’CeOe  9  Ha  0 

( irons v 

1 

1  • 

A  liite  to  Brow 

WULFENITK 

• 

1 

PI)  Mo  04 

1 

Vitreous 

Yellow 

STOLZI  1  K 

Pb  W  04 

Resinous 

Cray  or  Browi 

1 

VAXADINITK 

Pb5  V  07  Cl 

Resinons 

j 

Yellow  or  Brow 

C  A  EL  ITE 

( <  h/cxpar) 

Ca  Co3 

Vitreous 

1 

White  when. pur! 

Chalk  and  lime  stone  are  varieties  of  this  mineral.  Carbonic 
lead  and  copper. 

iv-id  gas  is  burnt 

ANHYDRITE 

CELEST1TE 


("a  .  S  04  I  Vitreous  to 

Pearly 


White 


BARITE 

/Irani/  Spar) 


Hr  S  04 

Ba  S  04 


Vitreous 


Tight  Blue 

and  White) 

White  when  pure 
Other  colors  fre¬ 
quent 

Frequently  owompanies  silver  pres.  The  white  variety  is  often  ground  u 


Vitreous  to 

Pearly 


AYGLESITE 


Pb  S  <Y 


Adamantine 


White  or  Gray 


lusornj  places  is  an  abundant  ore  of  lead  pP>  4.1 
m  istly  in  blast  furnaces.  •  *raqnently  carries  silver1 


CRYOLITE 


I  ! 

|  Na3  A1  F6 


Vitreous 


Whi  to 


Use,l  to  the  manufacture  of  Metallic  Aluminum.  Found  in  large  qua 


ge  quantiti  j 


WHITK  OR  GRAY  STREAK. 


43 


2. » •) 


2.75 


3 

3 


3 

3 

3 


3 


Tenacity. 

Crystal  System. 

' 

Brittle 

• 

Monoclinic  (o) 

Brittle 

Tetragonal  (o) 

Brittle 

Tetragonal  (c) 

Sectile 

Tetragonal  (o) 

Brittle 

1 

Hexagonal  (o) 

Brittle 

Hexagonal  (c) 

is  forming  lime.  Limestone  also 

Brittle 

Rhombic  (r) 

Brittle 

Rhombic  (c) 

Brittle 

Rhombic  (c) 

lg  used  to  adulterate  white  lead. 

Brittle 

Rhombic  (r) 

Fracture. 

Leafy 

Compact. 

Granular 

Granular 

Fibrous 

Granular  to 

Compact 


Sp.  Gr. 


1.5 

6.5 

8 

6.9 

2.6 


Compact 

Granular 

Granular 

Compact 


2.9 

3.9 

4.7 


6.2 


Like  Cerussite,  with  which  it  frequently  occurs,  is  smelted  to  metallic  lead 
3  Brittle  Compact  3 


■  i  Greenland. 


* 


-44  MINERALS  OF  NON- METALLIC,'  LUSTRE. 


Name. 

Chemical 

Formula. 

Lustre. 

l 

Color. 

Al.I.OPHANE 

Al2  Si  O, 

5  H2  0 

Vitreous 

White,  Blue 
and  Yellow 

WAVE!.  LITE 

Ah,  P4  0,9 

12  ld2  0 

Vitreous  to 

Silky 

Almost  all  colors 

CHRYSOCOI.I.A 

Cu  Si  03 

2  H2  0 

Earthy 

Apple-green 

1 

An  occasional  ore  of  copper.  Described  under  Green  S 

TREAK. 

SERPENTINE 
(  Variety  Chn/sofUe) 

Mg3  Si2  07 

2  H2  O 

Silky 

Dark  Green 

PYROMORPMITE 

Pb5  P  07  Cl 

Resinous  to 

Vitreous 

( Ireen  or  Yellow 

MIM  ETITE 

Pb5  As  07  Cl 

Resinous  to 
Adamantine 

White  or  Yellow 

STILB1TE 

(.1  Zeolite) 

Ca  Al2  Si6  O16 

6  H2  O 

Vitreous  to 

Pearly 

White 

CERUSSITE 

( Lead  Otrboi'xtlt1) 

Pb  C  03 

Adamantine 

White  when  pure 

Is  an  important  ore  of  lead,  frequently  carrying  silver  also.  It  is  an  ex'cep 
reverberatory  or  blast  furnaces,  generally  the  latter. 

ALUN1TE 

K  Al3  8*  0,, 

3  H2  O 

Vitreous 

White  when  pure 

STRONTI ANIT  E 

Sr  C,  03 

Vitreous  to 
Resinous 

White 

Sometimes  used  in  the  manufacture 

of  strontium  compounds  for  pyrol 

1 

.  ! 

WITHER  ITE 

Ba  C  03 

Vitreous 

White  when  pure  1 

I 


WHITE  OB  GK  VY  STBEAK. 


4", 


Hardness. 

T  enacity. 

Crystal  System. 

F  racture. 

Sp.  G 

3.25 

Brittle 

Conchoiclal 

1.8 

3.25 

Brittle 

Rhombic  ( r) 

Radiating 
and  Fibrous 

2.3 

I  3.5 

Brittle 

2.1 

1  M 

Brittle 

. 

Fibrous 

2.6 

m 

3.5 

Brittle 

Hexagonal  (c) 

Compact 

6.8 

■:  a. 

Brittle 

■ 

Hexagonal  (o) 

Compact 

7.1 

3.5 

Brittle 

Monoclinic  (o) 

Fibrous 

2.1 

3.5 

Brittle 

Rhombic;  (o) 

Compact  to 

Granular 

6.4 

tioually  desirable  smelting  ore,  requiring  no  roasting  and  reducing  readily  in 


3.75 


•  >.  i .) 


Brittle 

Brittle 


Hexagonal  (o) 

Compact  to 

Granular 

Rhombic  (r) 

Fibrous 

2.6 

8.7 


technv  (rod  tire  principally.) 


8.75 


Brittle 


RUouibie  (o) 


Fibrous 


•1.2 


46 


MINERALS  O?  NON-METALLIC  LUSTRE. 


N  a  me. 

(  h  mical 
Form  ula. 

Lustre. 

Color 

ARAGONITE 

Ca  G  03 

Vitreous 

White  when  pure 

SPHALERITE 

( Zinc  Blend)  (Black  Jack) 

Zn  S 

Adam  tine 

Yellow  Red  Brown 

Is  the  most  important  ore  of  Zinc  which  is  extracted  from  it  by  roasting 
metal  in  condensers.  The  zinc  is  sometimes  partly  replaced  by  iron  in  which 

BISMUTITE 
( Bismuth  Och/re ) 

Bir,  C  On  H20 

Earthy  to  Waxy 

Gray.PaleYellow 
Pale  Green 

FLUORITE 

r  Fluor-spar) 

Ca  F2 

Vitreous 

All  colors 

Sometimes  used  as  a  flux  in  smelting. 

Also  for  the  producing  of  Hydro- 

DOLOMITE 

( M agues ian  Limestone ) 

Ca  Mg  C2  Oe 

Vitreous 

White  when  pure 

Is  often  used  as  a  building  stone,  some  varieties  being  classed  as  coarse 
making  more  infusible  slags. 


SIDERITE 

(SpcUhetic  Iron  Ore) 


Fe  C  O, 


Vitreous 


Light  Brown 


Sometimes  contains  manganese  which  would  render  the  color  darker.  While 
pliur  and  other  impurities  and  smelted  in  charcoal  blast  furnaces  produces  a 


MAGNESITE 

RMODOCHROSITE 

SMITHSONITE 


Mg  C  03 
Mn  C  03 
Zn  C  03 


Vitreous 

Vitreous  to 

Resinous 

Vitreous  to 

Resinous 


White 
Rose  Red 
White  when  pure 


An  occasional  ore  of  zinc.  Requies  no  roasting,  otherwise  treatment  same 


WHITE  OR  GRAY  STREAK. 

47 

^rdness. 

Tenacity. 

Crystal  System. 

I 

Fracture. 

Sp.  Gr. 

k  * 

Brittle 

Rhombic  (c) 

Compact  to 

Fibrous 

2.9 

r  4  i 

Brittle 

Isometric  (c) 

• 

Compact  to 

Granular 

4 

and  subsequently  distilling  the  zinc  in  earthern-ware  retorts  collecting  the 
case  the  mineral  is  almost  or  quite  black.  Also  occurs  under  Brown  Streak. 

4 

Brittle 

Earthy 

6.9 

’  4 

Brittle 

Isometric  (c) 

Compact  to 

Granular 

3.1 

‘ 

fluoric  acid  in  etching  on  g 

lass. 

4 

Brittle 

Hexagonal  to) 

Granular 

2.8 

marbles.  It  is  not  so  desirable  as  the  ordinary 

limestone  for  a 

smelting  flux, 

,  4 

Brittle 

Hexagonal  (o) 

Granular 

3, 

not  an  abundant  ore  of  iron  it  is  exceptionally  free  from  phosphorous,  sul 
quality  ofiron  which  commands  a  premium. 

4.5 

Brittle 

Hexagon  1  (o) 

i 

|  Compact  to 

Granular 

3 

4.5 

Brittle 

Hexagonal  (o) 

Granular 

3.5 

4.5 

j  Brittle 

Hexagonal  (o) 

Compact  to 

Granular 

4.2 

as  sphalerite. 


0 


18 


MINERALS  OF  NON- METAL  LI."  LT'STKK. 


Name. 

1 

Chemical 

Formula. 

1 

Lustre. 

1 

| 

Color 

MARGARITE 

^  Ca2  Alio  Sis  O27 
3  H2  O 

Pearlv 

' 

White 

1 

SCHEELITE 

t 

Ca  W  04 

Adamantine 

l 

Yellow 

WOLLASTON  1 1  ,E 

Ca  Si  03 

Vitreous 

1 

White 

CHABASITE 

Ca  Al2  Si4  Oi2 

2  H2  O 

Vitreous  to 

Pearly 

I 

White 

1 

APOPHYLLITE 

Ca  Si  05  2  H20 

Pearly 

I 

White 

I 

CALAMINE 

Zu2  Si  04  H2  () 

Vitreous 

1 

White  Yellow 

Is  a  fairly  abundant  ore  of  Zinc.  Requires  no  roasting, 

but  is  sometimes 

DIACEASITE 

Ca3  Mg3  Fe 

Si7  02i 

Pearly 

Green  or  Brown 

RRONZITE 

Mg6  Fe  Si 7  02i 

Vitreous  to 

Resinous 

Brown 

APATITE 

• 

Ca5  P3  0i2  F 

Vitreous  to 

Resinous 

Brown,  Green 
and 

all  other  colors. 

T„  After  treatment  with  Sulphuric  Acid  to  set  free.  Phosphoric  Acid  is  the 

P  londa,  Canada  and  other  places. 

FASSAITE 

Mg2  Ca3  Si5  Oi5 

Vitreous  | 

Green 

1  hr  Pyroxene.  Horn  him  de 

DATOLITE 

Ca2  B2  Si2  On 

Hi  O 

Vitreous  to 

Resinous 

White 

1 

HARMOTOME 

Ba  Al2  Si,  Ci4  ' 
5  H2  O 

Vitreous 

White  to  Yellow 

NATROEITE 

Na2  Al2  Si3  O10  7 
2  H2  O 

Vitreous  to 

Pearly 

White 

WHITE  OR  GRAY  STREAK. 


j  Hardness. 

Tenacity. 

1 

Crystal  System. 

F  racture. 

1 

Sp.  Gr 

4.5 

Brittle 

Rhombic  (r) 

Leafy 

5 

4.5 

Brittle 

Tetragonal  (o) 

Compact  to 
Granular 

G 

I  4-5 

Brittle 

1  Monoclinic  (o) 

] 

Fibrous 

2.8 

4.5 

Brittle 

Hexagonal  (c) 

Granular 

2.1 

4  -r, 

1 

Brittle 

Tetragonal  (c) 

Granular 

2.3 

4.75 

Brittle 

Rhombic  (c) 

Fibrous  to 

Earthy 

3.5 

calcined  in  kilns  to  drive  off  water  before  retorting. 

4.75 

Brittle 

Monoclinic  (r) 

Compact 

3 

5 

Brittle 

Rhombic  (r) 

Granular 

3.2 

5 

Brittle 

Hexagonal  (c) 

Compact  to 
Granular 

1 

3.1 

principal  ingredient  of  most  fertilizers.  Ts  mined  largely  in  South  Carolina 


5 

Brittle 

Monoclinic  (o) 

Graular 

5.25 

Brittle 

Monoclinic  (o) 

Granular 

5.25 

Brittle 

Monoclinic  (o) 

Fibrous  to 

Compact 

5.25 

i 

Brittle 

Monoclinic  (o) 

Fibrous 

.-)()  MINERALS  OF  NON -METALLIC  LUSTRE. 


Name. 

Chemical 

Formula. 

Lustre. 

OPAL 

Si  02  H2  0 

Vitreous  to 

Waxy 

Clear  and  finer  varieties  used  as  gems. 

PITCHSTONE 

Ncl2  Al2  kMlo  O24 

3  H2  0 

Resinous 

LAZULITE 

Mg  Ala  P2  Og 
H2  O 

Vitreous 

AMPHIBOLF. 

Mg5Ca2FeSii8042 

Vitreous  to 

Pearly 

WILLEMITE 

Zn2  Si  04 

Vitreous 

THOMSONITE 

Ca  Ala  Si2  Os 

2  H2  0 

V  itreous 

A  red  variety  found  near  Lake  Superior  sometimes  used 

ANALCITE 

Na  A1  Si2  06 
H2  0 

Vitreous 

BROOKITE 

Ti  02 

Adamantine 

ANDESITE 

Na2  Ca  Al2Si40i2 

Vitreous  to 

Pearly 

CYANITE 

Ala  Si  05 

Vitreous 

EUSTATITE 

Mg  Si  04 

Pearly 

WERNERITE 

(Sea polite) 

Na2Ca2Al4Si604 

Vitreous  to 

Resinous 

RHODONITE 

Mn  Si  03 

Vitreous 

Color. 

| 

All  colors 

except  blue 

i 

Green  and  Brown 
^  Blue 

Dark  Green 
Gray  Yellow 
White  Red 
as  a  gem. 

White 

Brown 

White  to 

Flesh-red 

Light  blue  White 

Gray  lrellow 

Flesh  and  all 

other  colors 

Red  Brown 


WHITE  OR  GRAY  STREAK. 


51 


rdness. 

Tenacity. 

Crystal  System. 

F  racture. 

Sp.  Gr. 

5.25 

Brittle 

Compact  to 

Coucln  tidal 

2 

5.5 

Brittle 

A  morph 

Conchoidal 

2.2 

5.5 

Brittle 

Monoelinic  (r) 

Compact 

3 

5.6 

Brittle 

Monoclinic  (c) 

Compact  to 

Granular 

3.1 

5.5 

Brittle 

Hexagonal  (r) 

Fine  Granular 

4 

.,5 

Brittle 

Orthorhombic  (c) 

Fibrous 

2.3 

5  5 

Brittle 

I  sometric  fc) 

Granular 

2.2 

5. 5 

Brittle 

( h  thorhombic  (c) 

Compact 

4.2 

5.5 

Brittle 

Triclinic  (e) 

Granular  to 

Compact 

2.7 

5.5 

Brittle 

Triclinic  (r) 

Fibrous 

3.6 

5. 5 

Brittle 

Rhombic  (o) 

Fibrous 

3.2 

5.5 

Brittle 

Tetragonal  (r) 

Coarse  Granular 

2.7 

5.5 

Brittle 

Tricliuic  (r) 

Compact  to 

Granular 

3.5 

.72 


MINERALS  OF  NON-MET ALL [('  LUSTRE. 


N  a  me. 

Chemical 

Formula. 

Lustre. 

Color. 

LEUCITE 

K  A1  Si  2  06 

Vitreous  to 

Resinous 

White 

CAL A  MITE 
( Tmnolite) 

Mg3  Oa  Si4  Ou 

Vitreous 

White  Gray 

ACTING  LITE 

(  I  'a.  Amphibole) 

M^Oa^Fe  Si4042 

Silky  to  Vitreous 

Green 

I)  I  AS  PORE 

• 

AC  O3  h2  0 

Vitreous 

White 

TORQUOIS 

Al4  P2  Oi, 

5  EL  0 

Feebly  Waxy 

Bluish  Green 

Has  some  use  as  a  gem. 

SPODUMENE 

Li  A1  Si2  06 

Vitreous 

Gray  or  Greenish 

AUGITE 

f  Var  Pi/roxeue) 

Mg  Ca2FeSi40i2 

Vitreous 

Black 

HYPERSTHENE 

Mg  Fe  Si2  06 

Vitreous  to 

Resinous 

Blackish  Brown 

ORTHOCLASE 

( Potash  Felspar) 

K  A1  Si3  Os 

Vitreous 

Gray  to  Yellow 

The  light-colored  varieties  of  this  mineral  (those  free  from  iron  oxide)  are 
Stone  is  Green. 

ALBITE 

(Soda  Felspar) 

Na  A1  Si3  Os 

Vitreous 

White 

Sometimes  used  for  same  purposes  as  orthoclase. 

LABR  ADO  RITE 

( Soda- Lime  Felspar ) 

1  Na2  Ca3  Als 

Si, 6  048 

1  Vitreous  to 

Resinous 

White  to 

Bluish  Gray 

WHITE  OR  GRAY  STREAK. 


Hardness. 

Tenacity. 

Crystal  System. 

i 

Fracture. 

Sp 

5.  To 

Brittle 

Isometric  (c) 

Compact 

2.5 

ATS 

Brittle 

Monoclinic  (o) 

Fibrous 

3.2 

5.75 

Brittle 

Monoclinic  (o) 

Fine  Fibrous 

3.1 

6 

Brittle 

Rhombic  (r) 

Leafy 

3.4 

6 

Brittle 

Com  pact 

* 

2.7 

/ 

6 

Brittle 

Monoclinic  (o) 

Compact  to 

Granular 

3.1 

6 

Brittle 

Monoclinic  (c) 

Compact  to 

Granular 

3.3 

0 

Brittle 

Rhombic  (c) 

Coarse  Granular 

3.4 

# 

6 

Brittle  ‘ 

Monoclinic  (o) 

Granular 

2.5 

used  in  glass,  porcelain  and  pottery  manufacture.  Variety  known  as  Amazon 

»»  -  i-V'  '  i  i  |  I 

..  ,p  .....  .  Compact  to 

(,  Inclmic(o)  |  Granular! 


2.6 


Triclinic  (o) 


Granular 


f,4  MINERALS  OF  NON -METALLIC  LUSTRE. 


Name. 

Chemical 
.  Formula. 

Lustre. 

Color. 

A  NORTH  IT  E 
( Lime  Felspar) 

Ca  Al2  Si4  Os 

Vitreous 

l 

White 

OLIGOCLASE 

Lime  Soda 

NaeCa  AlsSi2oO=6 

,  Vitreous  to 

ltesinous 

Gray  to  Yellow 

PREHNITE 

Cn2  Ala  Si3  O.i 
H2  o 

Vitreous 

Pale  Green 

EPIDOTE 

H  Ca2  Al3  Si3Oi3 

Vitreous 

Green  to  Yellow 

RUTILE 

Ti  02 

Adamantine 

Brown  or  Yellow 

Described  under  minerals  of  Brown  Streak. 

CHONDRODITE 

Mg5  Si2  09 

Vitreous  to 

Resinous 

Yellow,  Brown 

CASSI1ERI  IE  /  Described  under  minerals  of  Brown  Streak. 

(  Tin  ore)  S 

peridote 

( Olivine ) 

Mg2  Si  04 

Vitreous 

Green  or  Yellow 

OBSIDIAN 

(  1  'nlcauie  tj/.ass) 

K2  Na4Al4Si,8045 

Vitreous 

Black  to  Gray 

QUARTZ 

Si  02 

Vitreous 

In  all  colors 
mostly  white 

When  colored  blue  by  manganese  is  known  as  amethyst, 
is  a  flux  in  copper-iron  matte  smelting  and  with  basic  ores. 

Massive  quartz  is 

CHALCEDONY 

(  Var.  Quartz) 

Si  02 

Earthy 

In  all  colors 

Agate.  Onyx,  Jasper,  Flint,  etc.,  are  chalcedonies  varying  in  the  amount, 


All  minerals  harder  than  quartz,  which  are  nearly  or  quite  transparent,  free 
Their  value  depends  mainly  on  the  variety  and  richnsss  of  color  of  specimens 


WHITE  OR  GRAY  STREAK. 


55 


Hardness. 

Crystal  System. 

F  racture. 

Sp  Gr. 

6 

Triclinic  ( r) 

Compact  to  Granular 

2.7 

6.5 

Triclinic  (r) 

Compact  to  Granular 

2.6 

6.5 

Rhombic  (o) 

Granular  to  Fibrous 

2.6 

6.5 

Monoclinic  (o) 

Compact  to  Fibrous 

3.3 

6.5 

Tetragonal  (c) 

Compact  to  Granular 

4.2 

6.5 

Granular 

3, 

6.75 

Rhombic  (c) 

Compact  to  Granular 

2.1) 

1GJ5 

Conchoidal 

2.6 

7 

Hexagonal  (c) 

> 

Compact  to  Granular 

2.7 

used  with  fire  clwy  in  the  manufacture  of  fire  brick,  furnace  linings,  etc. 


Amorphous 
kind  and  distribution  of  the  coloring:  matter. 


Conchoidal 

to  Compact 


Also 


from  cracks  and  of  a  good  color,  are  used  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  as  gems, 
answering  the  above  description. 


56 


MINERALS  OF  NON-METALLIC  LUSTRE. 


Name. 

Chemical 

Lustre. 

Color. 

Formula. 

VESUVIANITE 
( Idocrase ) 

GARNET 


H2  Ca8Al4Si7029 


Resinous  to 

Vitreous 


A  silicate,  bases  i  Resinous  to 
|  present  vary  I  Vitreous 


Light  Brown 
G  reen 

Mostly  Brown, 
Red.  and  Yellow 


Used  as  a  gem.  Frequently  richly  colored,  but  too  abundant  to  be  very 


TOURMALINE 


A  silicate  and  i 
borate  with  |  Vitreous 
different  bases 


Mostly  Black. 
Brown  and 
Green 


Occasionally  occurs  transparent  and  light-colored;  has  then  some  use  as  a 


BORACITE 

Mg7  B16  O30  Cl2 

Vitreous  to 

Adamantine 

White  to  Green 

ANDALUSITE 

Al2  Si  05 

Vitreous 

Gray  or  Red 

STAUROLITE 

Fe  Al4  Si2  On 

Vitreous 

Brow  n  to  B’ack 

BERYL 

Bee,  Al2  Si6  O18 

Vitreous 

Green;  also 
Bluish  or  Yellow 

When  clear  enough  to  be  used  as  a  gem  and  green  in  color  is  known  as  the 


ZIRCON 


Zr  Si  04 


Resinous  to 

Adamantine 


All  colors. 
Mostly  Brown 
and  Rod 


The  gem  Hyacinth  is  a  variety  of  Zircon. 


CHRYSOBERYI, 


Be  A1  04 


Vitreous 


Green  and  Yellow 


Clear  varieties  used  for  gems 


WHITE  OK  GRAY  STREAK. 


Hardness. 

Crystal  System. 

Fracture. 

7 

Tetragonal  (c) 

Granular  to  Compact 

t 

Isometric  (c) 

Compact  to  Granular 

valuable. 

7 

Hexagonal  (c) 

Splintery 

gem. 

7.25 

Isometric  (c) 

Fine  Granular 

7.25 

Rhombic  (c) 

Fibrous 

7.5 

Rhombic  (c) 

Granular 

7.5 

Hexagonal  (c) 

Splintery 

Emerald. 

7.5 

Tetragonal  (c) 

Compact 

7.  /D 

Rhombic  (c) 

Compact 

58 


MINERALS  OF  NON-METALLIO  LUSTRE. 


Name. 

Chemical 

Formula. 

Lustre. 

Color. 

PHENACITE 

Be  Si  03 

Vitreous 

White  or 

Pale  Yellow 

SPINEL 

Mg  Ala  04 

Vitreous 

Black  and  Green 

There  is  a  rare  red  variety  known  as  Spinel  Ruby. 

TOPAZ 

Ah  Si  04  F2 

Vitreous  to 
Adamantine 

Wine,  Yellow 
Blue,  White 

Valuable  gem. 

CORUNDUM 

Ala  O3 

Vitreous 

Blue,  Red,  also 
Green  and  Gray 

The  Oriental  Ruby,  Sapphire  and  Emerald  are  clear  varieties  of  corundum 
Both  it  and  the  opaque  varieties  of  corundum  are  used  for  grinding  and  polish- 

DIAMOND 

I 

0 

Adamantine 

White,  occasion¬ 
ally  other  colors. 

The  off  color  diamonds,  the  impure  variety,  known  as  carbonado  and  those 
edges  on  some  drills. 


WHITE  OR  GRAY  STREAK. 


59 


Hardness. 

Crystal  System. 

Fracture. 

Sp.  Gr. 

7.75 

Hexagonal  (c) 

Compact 

3 

7  75 

Isometric  (c) 

Compact 

4.2 

K 

Orthorhombic  (c) 

Compact  to  Splintery 

3.5 

8 

Hexagonal  (c) 

Compact  to  Granular 

4 

i 


differing  in  color.  The  mineral  emery  is  a  mixture  of  corundum  and  iron  oxide, 
ing  hard  substances  and  cutting  and  polishing  the  softer  gems. 


10 


Isometric  (c) 


Fine  Granular 


3.5 


I  I 

with  flaws  in  them  are  used  for  cutting  and  polishing  gems  and  for  cutting 


BLOW  PI  PING. 


A  Scheme  and  Tests  to  Determine  the  Presence  of  the  More 
Ordinary  and  Useful  Elements,  with  the  Use 
of  the  Least  Possible  Variety  of  Ap¬ 
paratus  and  Reagents. 


First—' The  Blowpipe.  There  is  a  large  variety  of  makes  of  this  article. 
The  Plattner  blowpipe  is  the  best,  especially  wTiere  it  is  desired  to  make  silver 
assays  or  do  at  all,  a  large  amount  of  v/ork.  Other  and  cheaper  grades,  such 
as  the  jeweler’s  blowpipe,  can  be  used  for  occasional  tests,  but  should  be  pro¬ 
vided.  in  all  cases,  with  a  bulb  or  other  receptacle  for  the  condensed  moisture 
from  the  breath. 

Second — The  Lamp.  This  should  be  provided  with  a  tightly  fitting  and 
washered  screw  top,  to  avoid  leakage  when  in  field  use.  Either  alcohol  or  oil 
can  bo  used  in  such  lamps. 

Third — A  small  amount  of  Platinum  wire,  one  piece  short  and  rather  thick, 
to  be  used  for  stirring  the  assay,  and  another  longer  and  thinner  piece  for  mak¬ 
ing  the  bead  tests. 

Fourth — Charcoal.  This  should  be  well  burned  and  fine  grained.  That 

from  the  smaller  limbs  is  generally  the  best. 

Fifth  -Open  and  Closed  Tubes.  These  should  be  made  from  Bohemian 
glass  tubing,  of  about  one-quarter  of  an  inch  diameter,  cut  into  four-inch 
lengths.  To  make  the  closed  tubes  simply  fuse  one  end  shut  with  the  blow¬ 
pipe,  using  the  hottest  portion  of  the  flame,  which  is  just  beyond  the  point  of 
the  inner  blue  flame. 

Sixth — Plaster  and  Bone  Ash.  Where  these  are  difficult  to  obtain,  or  it 
is  an  object  to  avoid  carrying  too  much  apparatus,  any  pure  clay,  well  burnt 
and  powdered,  wnll  form  a  good  substitute.  A  pair  of  forceps  should  be  added 
to  above  apparatus.  In  addition  to  the  above  several  reagents  are  needed.  A 
small  amount  of  nitrate  of  cobalt  to  form  cobalt  solution  and  small  bottles  of 


BLOWPIPING. 


Cl 


borax,  microcosmic  salt  (salt  of  phosphorus)  and  C.  P.  Carbonate  of  Soda  pre¬ 
ferably  dry.  Also  some  bismuth  dux.  which  is  prepared  as  follows:  Sulphur- 
two  parts;  Potassic  Iodide,  one  part;  Potassic  Bisulphate,  one  part.  Also  a 
small  bottle  of  Potassic  Bisulphate  and  a  little  copper  oxide. 

The  above  apparatus  and  reagents  comprise  all  that  is  necessary  and  if 
properly  arranged  can  be  readily  carried  in  the  pockets. 

The  abbreviations  used  are: 

O.  F. — Oxidizing  flame. 

R.  F. — Reducing  flame. 

S.  Ph. — Salt  of  Phosphorus. 

C.  P. — Chemically  pure. 

To  produce  the  oxidizing  flame  the  point  of  the  blowpipe  is  placed  just 
within  the  flame,  sligntly  above  the  wick.  Blowing  produces  a  long  blue  cone. 
The  oxidizing  flame  lies  just  outside  this  blue  cone  and  is  not  ordinarily  visi¬ 
ble,  unless  some  substance  is  placed  in  it.  Just  beyond  the  point  of  this  blue 
cone  is  the  hottest  part  of  the  flame. 

The  reducing  flame  is  produced  by  holding  the  blowpipe  so  that  its  point 
just  reaches  the  edge  of  the  lamp  flame  slightly  above  the  wick  and  is  the  in¬ 
terior  of  the  blue  cone,  above  mentioned,  being  most  active  near  its  point. 

In  making  the  bead  tests  a  piece  of  the  thinner  platinum  wire  should  l>e 
taken,  a  loop  made  in  one  end  of  it  about  one-eighth  of  an  inch  in  diameter. 
This  loop  should  be  heated  and  dipped  into  the  dry  borax  or  salt  of  phospho¬ 
rus,  as  the  case  may  be,  the  adhering  material  fused,  again  dipped  into  the  rea¬ 
gent  and  fused  until  a  clear  bead  is  formed  within  the  loop.  This  bead  should 
be  fused  and  dipped  into  a  small  amount  of  the  powdered  mineral  after  its 
treatment  on  charcoal.  Care  should  be  taken  not  to  take  too  much  of  the  sub¬ 
stance  at  first,  it  being  better  to  add  it  to  the  bead  in  minute  quantities  until 
the  desired  depth  of  color  is  obtained.  In  selecting  the  mineral  to  be  tested 
care  should  be  taken  to  pick  out  particles  of  one  mineral  or  in  case  the  minerals 
are  powdered  separate  them  by  panning,  as  unnecessary  conflict  of  tests  is  often 
produced  by  a  mixture  of  minerals. 

The  flame  tests  are  made  by  holding  a  small  bit  of  the  substance  in  a  pair 
of  forceps  or  wrapped  in  platinum  wire  in  the  colorless  flame  just  beyond  the 
cone  and  noting  the  coloration  of  flame  produced.  All  platinum  wire  should 
be  carefully  cleaned  between  tests. 

The  coatings  produced  on  charcoal  indicate  what  volatile  or  oxidizable  sub¬ 
stances  are  present  as  per  tests. 

The  powdered  mineral  should  first  be  placed  on  the  charcoal  and  treated 
with  the  O.  F.  carefully  noticing  if  any  fume  or  odor  other  than  that  which 


62 


BLOWPIPING. 


would  be  produced  by  the  burning  of  the  charcoal,  also  the  color  of  any  fumes 
which  might  be  produced  and  of  the  coating  or  deposit  which  they  might 
make  on  the  charcoal  awyay  from  the  flame  and  on  its  cooler  surfaces.  In  case 
of  any  such  fumes  or  odor  being  observed  another  portion  of  the  substance 
should  be  treated  in  open  and  closed  tubes  as  hereinafter  directed.  The  por¬ 
tion  on  the  charcoal  should  be  continually  treated  with  the  O.  F.  with  occa¬ 
sional  stirring  or  turning  over  with  platinum  wire  until  odor  or  fumes  cease  to 
appear.  In  case  of  the  presence  of  any  quantity  of  lead  or  other  heavy  metals 
a  prepared  surface  of  bone  ash  or  dried  clay  may  be  advantageously  substitut¬ 
ed  for  the  charcoal  in  the  latter  part  of  this  operation.  The  residue  is  then 
taken,  ground  if  necessary,  and  is  then  ready  for  the  bead  or  other  tests. 

The  raw  mineral  is  sometimes  given  what  is  called  a  flame  test,  by  hold¬ 
ing  a  small  fragment  of  it  in  a  colorless  flame  such  as  is  produced  by  an  alco¬ 
hol  lamp  or  Bunsen  burner  and  noting  the  resultant  coloration  of  the  flame 
and  also  the  fusibility  of  the  mineral. 

Platinum  tipped  forceps  should  be  used  for  this  purpose,  although  care¬ 
fully  cleaned  iron  ones  will  answer  in  most  cases. 

We  have  then  the  three  classes— flame,  charcoal  and  tube  tests  on  the  raw 
ore  and  the  bead  tests  on  the  residue  from  charcoal  examination,  except  in 
(rases  where  such  examination  gives  neither  fumes  or  odor,  in  which  case  the 
tube  tests  are  unnecessary.  Appended  is  a  list  of  the  reactions  of  the  more 
ordinary  and  useful  elements  under  such  examination,  care  being  taken  to  se¬ 
lect  such  tests  as  do  not  require  many  or  rare  reagents  or  special  skill  on  the 
part  of  the  experimenter. 

ALUMINUM,  Al. 

With  Soda.— Swells  and  forms  an  infusible  compound. 

With  Borax  or  S.  Ph.— Clear  of  cloudy,  never  opaque. 

With  Cobalt  Solution. — Fine  blue  when  cold. 

ANTIMONY,  Sb. 

On  Coal,  R.  F.-  Volatile  white  coat,  bluish  in  thin  layers,  continues  to 
form  after  cessatien  of  blast. 

With  Bismuth  Flux: 

On  Plaster— Orange  red  coat. 

On  Coal — Faint  orange  coat. 

In  Open  Tube— Dense,  white,  non-volatile  amorphous  sublinate.  The 
sulphide  too  rapidly  heated,  will  yield  spots  of  red. 

In  Closed  Tube — The  oxide  will  yield  a  white  fusible  sublimate  of  needle 
crystals,  the  sulphide,  a  black  sublimate  red  when  cold. 


BLOWPIPING. 


63 

The  roasted  ore  mixed  wita  Carbonate  of  Soda  heated  in  a  closed  tube 
yields  a  metallic  mirror. 

The  white  fumes  on  charcoal  are  odorless. 

ARSENIC,  As. 

On  Smoked  Plaster  -  White  coat  of  octahedral  crystals. 

On  Coal — Very  volatile  white  coat  and  strong  garlic  odor.  The  oxide  and 
sulphide  should  be  mixed  with  soda. 

With  Bismuth  Flux: 

On  Plaster — Reddish  orange  coat. 

On  Coal — Faint  yellow  coat. 

In  Open  Tube — White  sublimate  of  octahedral  crystals.  Too  high  heat 
may  form  brown  suboxide  or  red  or  yellow  sulphide. 

In  Closed  Tube  —May  obtain  white  oxide,  yellow  or  red  sulphide  or  black 
mirror  of  metal. 

BISMUTH,  Bi. 

On  Coal — In  either  flame  is  reduced  to  brittle  metal  and  yields  a  volatile 
coat,  dark  orange  yellow  hot,  lemon  yellow  cold,  with  yellowish-white  border. 

With  Bismuth  Flux: 

On  Plaster — Bright  scarlet  coat  surrounded  by  chocolate  brown, 
with  sometimes  a  reddish  border. 

On  Coal — Bright  red  coat  with  sometimes  an  inner  fringe  of  yellow . 

CADMIUM,  Cd. 

On  Coal  R.  F. — Dark  brown  coat,  greenish  yellow  in  thin  layers.  Beyond 
the  coat,  at  first  part  of  operation,  the  coal  shows  a  variegated  tarnish. 

On  Smoked  Plaster  with  Bismuth  Flux — W  hite  coat. 

CALCIUM,  Ca. 

On  Coal  with  Soda — Insoluble  and  not  absorbed  by  tli9  coal. 

Flame— Yellowish  red  improved  by  moistening  with  Hydrochloric  acid. 

With  Borax  or  S.  Ph. — Clear  and  colorless,  can  be  flamed  opaque. 

CARBONIC  ACID,  CO* 

With  Borax  or  S.  Ph. — After  the  flux  has  been  fused  to  a  clear  bead,  the 
addition  of  a  carbonate  will  cause  effervescence  during  furthe  r  fusion. 

CHLORINE,  Cl. 

With  S.  Ph.  saturated  with  Cu  O — Treated  at  tip  of  blue  flame,  the  bead 
will  be  surrounded  by  an  intense  azure-blue  flame. 


64 


BUOWPIPING. 


CHROMIUM,  Cr. 

With  Borax  or  S.  Ph.  O.  F.  Reddish  hot,  fine  yellow-green  cold. 

R.  F.  In  borax,  green  hot  and  cold.  In  S.  Ph.  red  hot,  green  cold. 

With  Soda.  —  O.  F.  Dark  yellow  hot,  opaque  and  light  yellow  cold. 

R.  F.  Opaque  and  yellowish-green  cold. 

COBALT,  Co. 

On  Coal.  R.  F.  The  oxide  becomes  magnetic  metal. 

With  Borax  or  S.  Ph. — Pure  blue  in  either  flame. 

COPPER,  Cu. 

On  Coal  R.  F. — Formation  of  red  malleable  metal. 

Flame. — Emerald-green  or  azure-blue  according  to  compound. 

With  S.  Ph. — Green  both  hot  and  cold  in  O.  F. 

With  Borax. — In  O.  F.  Greenish-blue. 

With  Borax  or  S.  Ph. — In  R.  F.  Greenish  or  colorless  hot,  opaque  and 
brownish-red  cold.  With  tin  on  coal  this  reaction  is  more  delicate. 

FLUORINE,  F. 

Etching  Test. — If  fluorine  is  released  it  will  corrode  glass  in  cloudy  patches, 
and  in  presence  of  silica  there  will  be  a  deposit  on  the  glass.  According  to 
the  refractoriness  of  the  compound  the  fluorine  may  be  released: 

(a)  In  closed  tube  by  heat. 

( b )  In  closed  tube  by  heat  and  Potassic  bisulphate. 

(c)  In  open  tube  by  heat  and  glass  of  S.  Ph. 

IODINE,  I. 

With  S.  Ph.  Saturated  with  Cu.  O.— Treated  at  the  top  of  the  blue  flame 
t  he  bead  is  surrounded  by  an  intense  emerald-green  flame. 

In  closed  tube  with  Potassic  bisulphate. — Violet  choking  vapor  and  brown 
sublimate. 

IRON,  Fe. 

On  Coal.  R.  F.  Many  compounds  become  magnetic.  Soda  assists  the 
reaction. 

With  Borax.  O.  F.  Yellow  to  red  hot,  colorless  to  yellow  cold. 

R.  F.  Bottle-green.  With  tin  on  coal,  vitriol-green. 

With  S.  Ph  —  O.  F.  Yellow  to  red  hot,  greenish  while  cooling,  colorless 
to  yellow  cold. 

R.  F.  Red  hot  and  cold,  greenish  while  cooling. 


blowpiping. 


65 


The  above  reactions  are  interfered  with  by  the  presence  of  cobalt,  chro¬ 
mium,  copper,  niekle  and  manganese  in  the  cold  bead  blit  not  in  the  hot  bead 
unless  these  substances  are  present  in  quantity. 

LEAD.  Pb. 

On  Coal.  In  either  flame  is  reduced  to  a  malleable  metal  and  yields,  near 
the  assay,  a  dark  lemon  yellow  coat,  sulphur-yellow  cold  and  bluish-white  at 

border. 

With  Bismuth  Flux: 

On  Plaster. — Chrome-yellow  coat. 

On  Coal.— Volatile  yellow  coat,  darker  hot. 

MAGNESIUM,  Mg. 

On  Coal  with  Soda.  —Insoluble,  and  not  absorbed  by  the  coal. 

With  Borax  or  S,  Ph. — Clear  and  colorless,  can  be  flamed  opaque-white. 
With  Cobalt  Solution.— Strongly  heated  becomes  a  pale  flesh  color. 

MANGANESE,  Mn. 

With  Borax  or  S.  Ph. — O.  F.  Amethystine  hot.  reddens  on  cooling. 

R.  F.  Colorless  or  with  black  spots. 

With  Soda. — O.  F.  Bluish -green  and  opaque  when  cold. 

MERCURY,  Hg. 

With  Bismuth  Flux:  * 

On  Plaster.— Volatile  yellow  and  scarlet  coat.  If  too  strongly  heat¬ 
ed  the  coat  is  black  and  yellow. 

On  Coal. — Faint  yellow  coat  at  a  distance. 

In  Closed  Tube  with  Dry  Soda  or  with  Litharge  Mirror-like  sublimate 
which  may  be  collected  in  globules. 

MOLYBDNUM.  Mo. 

On  Coal. — O.  F.  A  coat  yellowish  hot,  white  cold,  crystalline  near  assay. 
R.  F.  The  coat  is  turned  in  part  deep  blue,  in  part  deep  copper-red. 

Flame. — Yellowish-green. 

With  Borax. — O.  F.  Yellow  hot,  colorless  cold. 

R.  F.  Brown  to  black  and  opaque. 

With  S.  Ph. — O.  F.  Yellowish-green  hot,  colorless  cold. 

R.  F.  Emerald  green. 

NICKLE,  Ni. 

On  Coal. — R.  F.  The  oxide  becomes  magnetic. 


66 


BLOWPIPING. 


With  Borax. — O.  F.  Violet  hot,  pale  reddish-brown  cold, 

R.  F.  Cloudy  and  finally  clear  and  colorless. 

With  S.  Ph. — O.  F.  Red  hot.  yellow  cold. 

R.  F.  Red  hot,  yellow  cold.  On  coal  with  tin  becomes  colorless 

POTASSIUM,  K. 

Flame. — Violet,  except  borates  and  phosphates. 

Sodium.— (a)  The  flame  through  blue  glass  will  be  violet  or  blue. 

(b)  A  bead  of  borax  and  a  little  boracic  acid,  made  brown  by  nickel,  will 
become  blue  on  addition  of  a  potassium  compound. 

Lethium. — The  flame  through  green  glass  will  be  bluish-green. 

SELENIUM,  Se. 

On  Coal,  R.  F. — Disagreeable  horse-radish  odor,  brown  fumes  and  a  vola¬ 
tile  steel-gray  coat  with  a  red  border. 

In  Open  Tube. — Steel  gray  sublimate,  with  red  border,  sometimes  white 
crystals. 

In  Closed  Tube.-  Dark-red  sublimate  and  horse-radish  odor. 

Flame. — Azure-blue. 

SILICON,  Si. 

On  Coal  with  Soda. — With  its  own  volume  of  Soda,  dissolves  with  effer¬ 
vescence  to  a  clear  bead.  With  more  soda  the  bead  is  opaque. 

With  Borax. — Clear  and  colorless. 

With  S.  Ph.— Insoluable.  The  test  made  upon  a  small  fragment  will 
usually  show  a  translucent  mass  of  undissolved  matter  of  the  shape  of  the 
original  fragment. 

When  not  decomposed  by  S.  Ph.,  dissolve  in  borax  nearly  to  saturation, 
add  S.  Ph.,  and  re-heat  for  a  moment.  The  bead  will  become  milky  or  opaque 
white. 


SILVER,  Ag. 

On  Coal— Reduced  to  malleable  white  metal.  Strong  oxidizing  flame  pro¬ 
duces  a  pinkish  coating. 

With  Borax  or  S.  Ph.— O.  F. ,  Opalescent. 

The  above  reactions  are  only  produced  by  the  silver  minerals  proper.  In 
.all  ordinary  ores  of  silver  the  amount  present  is  so  small  that  these  reactions 
would  be  totally  obscured,  and  a  reproduction  on  a  small  scale  of  the  ordinary 
assay  process  becomes  necessary.  This  is,  briefly,  as  follows:  Mix  with  the 
mineral  an  equal  volume  of  borax  glass  and  one  to  two  volumes  of  test  lead 


ELOV.'PII  ING. 


07 


jmd  heat  strongly,  first  for  a  short  time  in  the  R  F.  and  subsequently  in  the  (). 
F.,  until  the  slag  surrounding  the  button  of  molten  lead  seems  thoroughly 
fused.  x\llow  it  to  cool,  remove  the  button,  place  it  on  a  cupel  and  blow  the 
oxidizing  flame  across  it,  using  as  strong  and  continued  a  blast  as  possible  until 
the  button  of  lead  is  quite  small.  Then  allow  it  to  cool,  pick  out  the  lead  but¬ 
ton,  place  it  on  a  fresh  cupel  and  oxidize  as  above  until  the  play  of  iridiscent 
colors  on  the  surface  of  the  molten  metal  ceases  and  a  brightening  of  the  resid¬ 
ual  button  occurs.  This  button  is  either  silver.or  an  alloy  of  silver  and  gold, 
and  if  a  definite  weight  of  the  ore  has  been  used  the  weigh  of  this  button  will 
indicate  the  amount  of  silver  present  In  the  absence  of  fine  button  scales  the 
approximate  weight  of  the  button  is  sometimes  estimated  by  means  of  what  is 
knowui  as  Plattner’s  scale;  this  consists  in  two  gradually  diverging  lines  drawn 
on  a  strip  (generally  of  ivory).  By  placing  a  button  between  these  lines  its  di¬ 
ameter  can  bo  measured  and  consequently  its  weight  estimated.  If  on  the  be¬ 
ginning  of  the  cupellation  we  notice  that  the  litharge  is  dark  or  the  button 
solidifies  before  brightening,  we  should  re-scorify  on  coal  with  the  addition  of 
borax  and  more  test  lead  and  again  cupel  until  only  the  button  of  silver  re¬ 
mains.  If  auy  gold  is  present  it  would  remain  behind  as  a  black  residue  In- 
dissolving  tho  button  in  either  nitric  or  sulphuric  acid. 

SODIUM,  Na. 

Flame  Strong  reddish-yellow. 

STRONTIUM,  Sr. 

On  Coal  with  Soda  Insoluble,  absorbed  by  the  coal. 

Flame—  Intense  crimson,  improved  by  moistening  with  Hydrochloric  acid. 

With  Borax  or  S.  Ph.—  Clear  and  colorless;  can  be  flamed  opaque. 

SULPHUR  S. 

On  Coal  with  Soda  and  a  little  Borax — Thoroughly  fuse  in  the  K.  F.  and 
place  on  a  silver  coin,  moisten,  crush  and  let  stand.  The  silver  will  become 

brown  to  black. 

To  determine  whether  Sulnhide  or  Sulphate-  Fuse  with  soda  on  platinum 
foil.  The  sulphide  only  will  stain  silver. 

TELLURIUM,  Te. 

On  Coal — Volatile  white  coat  with  red  or  yellow  border. 

In  Open  Tube — Gray  sublimate  fusible  to  clear  drops. 

TIN,  Sn. 

On  Coal — O.  F.  The  oxide  becomes  yellow  and  luminous. 


68 


BLOWPIPING. 


With  Cobalt  Solution  Moisten  the  coal  in  front  of  the  assay  with  solution 
and  blow  a  strong  It.  F.  on  the  assay.  The  coat  will  be  bluish-green  when 
cold. 

With  Cu.  O.  in  Borax  Bead. — The  faint  blue  bead  is  made  reddish-brown 
or  ruby  red  by  heating  it  for  a  moment  in  R.  F.  with  a  tin  compound. 

With  Soda  on  Charcoal.  —  Heat  strongly  in  R.  F.  for  sometime  and  grind 
the  fusion  under  water  in  an  agate  mortar.  After  the  soda  is  dissolved  and  the 
adhering  particles  of  charcoal  is  washed  away,  tin  if  present  will  remain  in 
white  metallic  spangles. 

TITANIUM,  Ti. 

With  S.  Ph.— Colorless  to  yellow  hot,  colorless  cold  in  the  O.  F.  In  the 
R.  F.  it  is  yellow  when  hot  and  violet  when  cold.  This  last  reaction  is  ob' 
tained  more  plainly  by  fusing  the  bead  on  charcoal  with  a  globule  of  metallic 
tin. 


TUNGSTEN,  W. 


With  S.  Ph.— O.  F. 

R.  F. 


Clear  and  colorless. 

Green  when  hot,  blue  when  cold. 


URANIUM,  U. 


With  Borax. — R.  F.  Greenish  yellow. 
With  S.  Ph.  R.  F.  Emerald  green. 

ZINC.  Zn. 


On  Charcoal.—  O.  F.  The  oxide  becomes  yellow  and  luminous. 

R.  F.  Yellow  coat,  w’hite  when  cold!  reaction  help  by  soda 

and  borax. 

With  Cobalt  Solution. — Moisten  the  coal  iu  front  of  the  assay  with  Solu¬ 
tion  and  blow  a  strong  R.  F.  on  the  assay.  The  coat  will  be  a  bright  yellow 
green  when  cold. 


TABLE  OF  ELEMENTS  WITH  THEIR 
SYMBOLS  AND  ATOMIC  WEIGHTS. 


Name. 

Symbol. 

’  Atomic 
Weight. 

Name. 

Symbol. 

Atomic 

Weight. 

Aluminum . 

A1 

27.3 

Mercury  (Hydrargyrum) 

Hg 

j  200. 

Antimony  (Stibium) . 

Sb 

122. 

Molybdenum . 

Mo 

96. 

Arsenic . 

As 

75. 

Nickel . 

Ni  . 

i  59. 

Barium . 

Ba 

137. 

Niobium . 

Nb 

1  94. 

Beryllium  (Glucinum). . . 

Be 

9.4 

Nitrogen . 

N 

14. 

Bismuth . 

Bi 

211). 

Osmium . 

(  >s 

199.2 

Rnron . 

B 

11. 

Oxvgen . 

o 

16. 

Bromine 

Br 

80. 

Palladium . 

Pd 

106. 

Cadmium . 

Cd 

112. 

Phosphorus . 

P 

31. 

Caesium . 

Cs 

133. 

Platinum . 

Pt 

198. 

Calcium . 

Ca 

40. 

Potassium  (Kalium) . 

K 

39.1 

Carbon . 

C 

12. 

Rhodium . 

Ro 

104. 

Cerium . 

Ce 

140.4 

Rubidium . 

Rb 

85.4 

Chlorine . 

Cl 

35.5  ; 

Ruthenium . 

Ru 

104.4 

Chromium . 

Cr 

52.2  ! 

Selenium . 

So 

78.8 

Cobalt . 

Co 

59. 

Silicon . 

Si 

28. 

Columbium . .  . 

Cb 

94. 

Silver  (Argentum) . 

Ag 

108. 

Copper  . 

Cu 

63.4 

Sodium  (Natrium) . 

Na 

23. 

Didymium . 

D 

145.4 

Strontium . 

Sr 

87. 

Erbium  . 

E 

166. 

Sulphur . 

S 

32 

Fluorine . 

F 

19. 

Tantalum . 

Ta 

182. 

Gold  (Aurum) . 

Au 

197. 

Tellurium . 

Te 

128. 

Hydrogen . 

H 

1. 

Thallium . 

T1 

204. 

Indium . 

In 

113.4 

Thorinum  (Thorium). . . . 

Th 

231. 

Iodine . 

I 

127. 

Tin  (Stannum) . 

Sn 

118. 

Iridium . 

Ir 

198. 

Titanium . 

Ti 

50. 

Iron  (Ferrum) . 

Fe 

56. 

Tungsten  (Wolfram)  .... 

W  j 

184. 

Lanthanum . 

La 

138.5 

Uranium . 

u 

240. 

Lead  (Plumbum) . 

Pb 

207. 

Vanadium . 

V 

•  >l  :> 

Lithium . 

Li 

7. 

Yttrium . 

Y 

89.8 

Magnesium . 

Mg 

24. 

Zinc . 

Zn  j 

65. 

Manganese . 

Mn 

5o. 

Zirconium . 

Zr 

89.6 

MOHS’S  SCALE  OF  HARDNESS. 


DEGHEE. 

1  . . Talc. 

2  . Gypsum  or  Halite. 

,  3 . . Calcite. 

[  4 . Fluorite. 

5 . Apatite  (ervst  Hissed  vm  ety). 

6 .  *. . Feldspar  (  Adularia). 

7  . Quartz. 

8  . Topaz. 

9  . Corundum. 

10 . Diamond. 


SCALES  OF  FUSIBILITY. 

plattner’s. 

1.  Such  as  fuse  to  a  bead,  (a)  Easily.  ( b )  With  difficulty. 

2.  Such  as  fuse  only  on  the  edge,  (a)  Easily.  (6)  With  difficulty. 

3.  Such  as  are  infusible. 

v 

von  kobell’s. 

1.  Stibnite.—  Fusible  in  candle-flame  in  coarse  splinters. 

Natrolite.  — Fusible  in  candle-flame  in  fine  splinters.  Easily  fused  before 
the  blowpipe  in  coarse  fragments. 

3.  Almandite,  or  Iron  Alumina  Garnet — Infusible  in  candle  flame,  quite 
fusible  before  the  blowpipe  in  coarse  fragments. 

1.  ActinolitK. — Fusibity  less  than  Almandite  and  greater  than  No.  5;  fusible 
in  coarse  splinters. 

5.  Orthoclase. — Fusible  in  fine  splinters. 

6.  Rronzite.  — Only  rounded  on  the  edges  in  very  fine  splinters 


INDEX  OF  MINERALS. 


Actinolite,  52. 
Agate,  54. 

Albite,  52. 
Allophnne,  44. 
Alum,  Native.  34. 
Aluminite,  34. 
Akrnite,  44. 
Amalgam,  6. 

Amber,  40. 
Amethyst,  54. 
Amphibole,  50  52. 
Analci  e,  50. 
Andalusite,  56. 
Andesite,  50. 
Angles:te,  42. 
Anhydrite,  42. 
Annabergite,  38. 

A  north'  .  54. 
Anthracite,  18 
Antimony.  6. 
Apatite,  48. 
Apophyllite,  48. 
Aragonite,  46. 
Argerlite,  lo,  14. 
Arsen:c,  12. 

Arsei  opvrite,  8. 
Asbestus,  30. 
Asphaltum,  18. 
Atacamite,  30. 
Augite,  52. 

A/.urite,  32. 

Barite,  42. 

Beryl,  56. 

Biotite,  40. 

Bismuth,  6. 

Bismuth,  Ochre.  46 
Bismutite,  46. 

Bitun  'nous  Coal,  18. 
Black-jack,  46. 

Bog  Manganese,  20. 
Boracite,  56. 

Borax,  Native,  38. 
Bornite,  2,  4.  * 


Bournonite,  10,  14. 

Bra  unite,  16,  20. 
Breithauptite,  2. 

Brittle  Silver  Ore,  12. 
Bromyrite,  30. 
Bronzite,  48. 

Brook 'te,  50. 

Brown  Coal,  20. 
Brucite,  36. 

Cacoxenite,  28. 
Calamine,  48. 

Calamite,  48,  52. 
Ca’c'te,  42. 

Calcspar,  42. 

Carnallite,  40. 
Cassiterite,  24,  28,  54. 
Cerargyrite,  36. 
Cerussite,  44. 
Chabazite,  48. 
Chalcanthite,  38. 
Chalcedony;  54. 
Chaleocite,  10 
Chalcopyrite,  4. 
Chalcophyllite,  30. 
Chloanthite,  8. 

Chlorite,  30,  40. 
Chloropal,  2o,  30. 
Chondrodite,  54. 

Chi.  cite,  16. 

Chrome  Iron  Ore,  16. 
Clfyso beryl,  36. 
Chrysocolla,  22,  30,  32, 
Chrysotile,  36. 
Cinnabar,  24. 
Clausthalite,  10. 

Coal,  Bituminous,  18. 
Coal,  Brown,  20. 
Cobalt,  Bloom.  24. 
Cobaltite,  8. 

Coelestite,  42. 
Columbite,  20. 

Copper,  2, 

Copper  Oxide,  24. 


Copper  Vitriol,  38. 
Copperas,  36. 
Corundum,  56. 
Covellite,  18. 
Crocoite,  26. 
Cryolite,  42. 

Cuprite,  24. 

Cyanite,  50. 

Datolite,  48. 
Diaclasite,  48. 
Diamond,  58. 
Diaspore,  52. 
Dioptase,  30,  32. 
Dolomite,  46. 

Earth -wax,  20. 
Elaterite,  20. 
Emerald,  56,  58. 
Enargite,  14,  18. 
Epidote,  54. 
Epsomite,  38. 
Erythrite,  24. 
Eustatite,  50 
Fassaite,  48. 
Feldspar,  Lime,  54. 
Feldspar,  Potash,  52. 
Feldspar,  Soda,  52. 
Feldspar,  Soda- Li  me, 
Flint,  54. 

Fluorite,  32,  46. 

FI  or- Spar,  46. 
Franklinite,  16. 
Galena,  10. 

Galenite,  10. 

Garnet.  56. 
Gersdorlifite,  1 2.  • 

GLuberite,  42. 
Glauber’s  Salt.  36. 
Gothite,  22. 

Gold,  4. 

Goslarite,  38. 
Graphite,  14. 

Gray  Copper,  12. 
Greenockite.  28. 


Gypsum,  36. 

Halite,  40. 

Harmotome,  48. 

Heavy  Spar,  42. 
Hematite.  14,  16,  24. 
Hessite,  6.  10. 

Horn  Blend,  32,  48. 
Horn  Silver,  36. 
Hyacinth,  56- 
Hydrozineite,  40. 
Hypersthene,  52. 
Ilmenite,  16. 

Iodyrite,  26. 

Iron,  12. 

Jasper,  54. 

Lahradorite,  52. 

Lapis  Lazuli,  32. 
Lazulite,  50. 

Lepidolite.  38. 

Leucite,  52. 
Leucopyrite,  8. 

Light  Ruby  Silver,  24. 
Lignite  20. 

L’mestone,  42. 

Limoni te  22,  28. 
Linnaeite.  8. 

Lithium  Mica,  38. 
Magnesite,  46. 
Magnetite,  16 
Malachite,  30. 
Manganite,  12,  14. 
Marcasite,  48. 
Meerschaum.  38, 
Melanterite,  36. 

Mellite,  42. 

Mercury,  6. 

Mica.  40. 

Millerite,  4. 

Mimetite,  44. 

Mirabilite.  S6. 
Mispickel,  8. 
Molybdenite,  8. 
Muscovite,  40. 

Natrolite,  48. 

Natron,  34. 

Needle  Ironstone,  22. 
Niccolite,  2. 
Nickel-bloom,  38. 
Obsidian,  54. 


INDEX. 

Oligoclase,  54. 

Olivenite,  28,  30. 

Onyx,  54. 

Opal,  50. 

Orpiment,  26. 

Orthoclase,  52. 

Ozocerite,  20. 

Peridote,  54. 

Petroleum,  34. 

Petzite,  6. 

Pharmacosiderite,  28 
Phenacite,  58. 

Pitchblende,  18. 

Pitchstone,  50. 

Platinum,  6. 

Polianite,  12. 

1'olybasite,  14. 

Prehnite,  34. 

Prousite,  24. 

Psilomelane,  20,  22. 
Pyrargyrite,  12.  24. 

Pyrite,  8,  12,  14. 
Pyromorphite,  28,  44. 
Pyrophyllite,  36. 

Pyroxene,  52. 

Pyrrhotite,  4. 

Quartz,  34. 

Quartz,  Ferruginous,  54. 
Realgar,  26. 

Rhodochrosite,  46. 
Rhodonite,  50. 

Ripidolite,  30,  40. 

Rock  Salt,  40. 

Ruby,  38. 

Rubv  Silver,  12. 

Rutile,  14,  16,  20,  22,  28,  54. 
Sapphire,  58. 

Sassolite,  36. 

Scapolite,  30. 

Scheelite,  48. 

Scheererite,  34. 

Sepiolite,  38. 

Serpentine,  44. 

Siderite,  22,  46. 

Silver,  6. 

Silver  Glance,  10. 

Silver  Ore,  Brittle, 

Smaltite,  8,  12. 

Smithsonite,  46. 


Soda  Nitre,  36. 

Spathic  Iron.  46. 
Sphalerite,  22.,  28.  46. 
Spinel,  58. 

Spodumene,  52* 
Stanmte,  4,  12. 
Staurolite,  56. 
Stephanite,  12,  14. 
Stibnite,  10. 

Stilbite,  44. 

Stolzite,  42. 
Strontianite,  44. 
Succinite,  40. 

Sulphur,  26,  38. 
Sylvanite,  6.  8. 

Sylvite,  40. 

Talc,  34" 

Tennantite,  12. 
Tetrahedrite,  12,  14. 
Thomsonite,  50. 

Tincal.  38. 

Tin  Stone,  24,  54. 
Titanic  Iron  Ore,  16. 
Topaz,  58. 

Torbernite,  26,  30. 
Tourmaline,  32,  56. 
Tremolite,  52. 

Turgite,  24. 

Turquois,  52. 

Uraninite,  18. 

Valentinite,  40. 
Vanadinite,  28,  42. 
Vesuvianite,  56. 
Vivianite,  32. 

Volcanic  Glass,  54. 
Wad,  20. 

Wavellite,  44, 
Wernerite,  50. 
Willemite,  50. 
Witherite,  44. 
Wolframite,  22. 
Wollastonite,  48. 
Wulfenite,  42, 

Vellow  Ochre,  26. 

Zinc  Blende,  22,  46. 
Zincite,  28. 

Zinc  Vitriol,  38. 

Zircon,  56. 


$5  --BRa^s 


GETTY  CEN 


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